Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of defender Pascal Struijk from Leeds United for a fee reported to be around £20 million. The 26-year-old centre-back has signed a five-year deal with the Seagulls.

Struijk's Career at Leeds

Struijk joined Leeds' under-23 squad from Ajax in January 2018 and eventually made his way to the first team. During his time at Leeds, he accumulated a total of 196 appearances, including 34 in the Premier League last season. His contract with the club was set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Brighton’s Assessment of Struijk

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler expressed enthusiasm about the new signing, stating, "Pascal is exactly the sort of profile we wanted to add to the squad this summer, in that he's got good Premier League experience and has his peak years ahead of him." Hurzeler highlighted Struijk's strong defensive skills and his ability to play comfortably with the ball, noting that his style aligns well with Brighton's approach. Additionally, Hurzeler praised Struijk's leadership qualities, mentioning that he had captained Leeds at times during the previous season.

This acquisition comes after Brighton sold centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham for £52 million earlier this summer, indicating a strategic move to bolster their defensive lineup.