Why Brighton sanctioned £20m Pascal Struijk transfer as Leeds United told what they'll miss
Leeds United confirmed their former centre-back's exit on Tuesday.
Leeds United have lost a ‘leader’ who is great defensively and on the ball in Pascal Struijk, according to his new manager.
Struijk officially joined Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday evening, putting pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Amex Stadium. The YEP understands Leeds will receive an initial £18million for the defender plus £2m of potential add-ons and a portion of any future sale.
Leeds had offered Struijk, into the final 12 months of his Elland Road contract, fresh terms and a pay-rise but the 26-year-old was keen to pursue a new challenge elsewhere. The centre-back spent eight-and-a-half years in West Yorkshire, winning two Championship titles.
Over the past 12 months in particular, Struijk has also established himself as a Premier League-level centre-back. The Leeds man thrived in a back-three, a tweak which brought the best out of his qualities in possession while mitigating against a lack of pace on the turn.
Possession-based Brighton will hope to provide another platform for Struijk’s best qualities to shine while also offering European football in the form of the Conference League. And Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler explained why they pursued the Leeds man following confirmation of his move.
Brighton boss on Pascal Struijk transfer
Hurzeler said: “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. He really showcased what he’s capable of last season - great defensive actions while comfortable on the ball - with his style well suited to ours.
“He is also a leader, having worn the captain’s armband at times for Leeds last season. He is an excellent addition to the group and I am looking forward to working with him.”
Leeds say the sale of Struijk helped with their adherence to Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) having come on the June 30 accounting deadline. His exit, combined with a higher-than-expected 14th-place Premier League finish and a run to the FA Cup semi-finals, kept them from any financial breach.
The Whites had little option but to cash in on Struijk once it was clear he wanted a new challenge, given his contract situation, but replacing the Dutchman will not be easy. Left-footed, ball-playing centre-backs are always a hot commodity while top-level experience also comes at a price.
Daniel Farke is now without any left-sided centre-backs with Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw all more comfortable on the other side. Gabriel Gudmundsson is the only left-footed defender and while he looked relatively comfortable in a back-three for Sweden against France overnight, wing-back is his more natural and effective role.