Sports
OFFICIAL: Leon Balogun joins Premier League club Brighton
Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has completed a move to English Premier League club, Brighton and Hove Albion on a two-year contract.
The 29-year-old centre-back has been snapped up by the Seagulls on a free transfer from Bundesliga side Mainz on a contract until June 2020.
Balogun, who had a three-year stay at Mainz, helping them escape relegation this season, becomes the Albion club first signing of the summer.
“I know they (Albion) have been watching me for quite a while now and it has always been my dream to come to the Premier League,” the Berlin-born Nigerian said after signing.
“Ever since I started playing at a professional level a lot of team-mates told me it would fit my game and I am happy it’s just happened.”
The Super eagles star, who began his career at Turkiyemspor Berlin in 2007 before moves to Hannover, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf and SV Darmstadt, has already been named in Gernot Rohr’s 30-man provisional 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.
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Brighton manager, Chris Hughton also admitted that he is confident that Balogun’s wealth of experience will be a thing of value adding to his squad.
“I am delighted to welcome Leon to the club. He will add more depth to our defensive options, and I am pleased to get our first piece of business done so early in the summer,” the coach said.
“He is in the peak years of his career and I am sure he will integrate well into the squad.
“He also has valuable experience, having played in the Bundesliga, the Europa League and at international level,” he stated.
Brighton finished 15th with 40 points in the just-concluded Premier League season.
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