Brighton & Hove Albion have made Shrewsbury Town defender Connor Goldson their tenth signing of the summer for an undisclosed fee. The clubs official website confirms he has signed a four-year contract and will be available for Saturday’s home clash with Blackburn Rovers.
Yesterday we revealed how a fee had reportedly been agreed, now the club has officially confirmed the transfer. 22-year-old Goldson’s stock has grown over the past few seasons and had become one of the most highly regarded names in the lower leagues. He was named in the League Two Team of the Year last season and also won both the Players’ Player and Player of the Year awards at Shrewsbury. Seagulls boss Chris Hughton is more than delighted to bring the versatile player into his squad,
“We are delighted to bring someone with Connor’s ability and potential to the club; at his age there is still plenty to come from him. We know he had a lot of admirers in terms of other clubs, so we are thrilled to complete the deal.
He is predominantly a central defender, but he has also played in midfield and at right-back, and it is clear by his goal record last year that he can also contribute in that area too.
I have no doubt, he has the talent to step into the Championship after performing well in both League Two and League One.”
Goldson is understandably upbeat after jumping up into the Championship for the first time in his career, but he was quick to praise his former club for their role in his development, in his first interview with the Brighton official website,
“I got brought into Shrewsbury and I was lucky enough to get through the academy there and then he given a chance in the first team.
I signed my first professional contract at 17 in the first year of my scholarship. I was always fortunate at Shrewsbury that I had people to guide me well there. I had people that were confident in me and I will never be able to repay that faith to them.
The place means a lot to me and I will never forget that they gave me my chance to be where I am today. Without that chance I don’t know where I would be today.”
In addition to Goldson joining, the club earlier this month announced the signing of another defender in Uwe Hünemeier from Paderborn. Lewis Dunk continues to be linked with a move away, however Get West London revealed how Brighton rejected a reported bid of £5million for the 23-year-old.
