Pascal Struijk joins Brighton in £20m move as Leeds assess what they lose | OneFootball

Brighton have completed the signing of Pascal Struijk on a five-year deal confirmed on Tuesday evening, with Fabian Hurzeler describing the defender as a leader strong defensively and on the ball.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Leeds will receive an initial £18 million, with potential add-ons worth a further two million and a portion of any future sale. Struijk had 12 months left on his contract, was offered improved terms, but chose a new challenge.

The 26-year-old spent eight-and-a-half years at Elland Road, winning two Championship titles, and has played his entire senior career for Leeds. Over the past year he excelled on the left of a back-three, showing quality in possession while limiting exposure to a lack of recovery pace.

Possession-focused Brighton believe their set-up, plus Conference League football, can showcase those strengths. Hurzeler said Struijk fits the profile targeted, brings Premier League experience with peak years ahead, impressed last season with robust defending and composure in possession, suits their style, and has led Leeds at times.

Leeds said the sale, completed before the 30 June accounting deadline, supported compliance with Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Combined with a 14th-place Premier League finish and an FA Cup semi-final run, it helped them avoid any financial breach.

Replacing a left-footed, ball-playing centre-back will be difficult and costly. Daniel Farke now lacks a natural left-sided centre-back, with Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw preferring the other side, while Gabriel Gudmundsson is the only left-footed defender and, despite looking relatively comfortable in a back-three for Sweden against France overnight, is more effective as a wing-back.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk