Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the signing of Anthony Knockaert from Standard Liege. The former Leicester City attacker has signed on a three-and-a-half contract for an undisclosed fee.
Subject to international clearance, Knockaert will be free to make his Seagulls debut. That isn’t expected to be completed before this weekend but should be fine to play in next Tuesday’s Championship encounter with Rotherham United. Manager Chris Hughton was delighted to get the deal across the line,
“Once I knew there was a possibility that Anthony was available, he was somebody I was interested in bringing to the club for a number of reasons.
He is a different type of player to the wide players we have here; he can play in three positions, on the left, off the front man, but predominantly in his previous time here in England he played on the right side.
He is a very good technical, offensive player, and has experience of playing in the Championship, in a team who played a 4-4-2 system, and he is used to having a responsibility in the wide areas – but mostly it is what he can bring us offensively in terms of goals and assists.”
Anthony Knockaert completes his move to #BHAFC from Standard Liege. https://t.co/iJFRd0hEzM
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 7, 2016
Knockaert began his career in his native France with Guingamp and helped the club achieve promotion to the second tier of French football in 2011. He moved to the Foxes in August 2012 on a three-year deal and helped Leicester reach the play-offs in his first season. He rejected a new deal at the King Power Stadium to move to Liege and has already scored five goals in the first half of this season.
He is sure to be a big fans’ favourite down at the Amex Stadium. He is an exciting and skilful forward that is capable of changing games and ultimately winning them as well. He’ll be a big asset to the Championship and to Brighton.
