Albion Sign Midfielder Gruda As Osman Joins Feyenoord On Loan

Thursday, 15 August 2024 11:10

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Brighton and Hove Albion have announced the signing of attacking midfielder Brajan Gruda from German club FSV Mainz, subject to work permit application and international clearance.

Brajan has agreed a contract until June 2028, and head coach Fabian Hurzeler said:

“I’m really pleased to get the opportunity to work with Brajan. I saw the big impact he made last season in the Bundesliga and he’s a player I admire a lot.

“The Premier League will be a different challenge but I’m looking forward to working with Brajan and helping to develop his big potential.”

Technical director David Weir added:

“We’re delighted to bring Brajan to the club. He’s a player we have been tracking for a while and he’s already played at a really good level in the Bundesliga.

“He is a player Fabian knows well and is really looking forward to working with.”

The 20-year-old broke through at Mainz last season when he played 28 games in the Bundesliga and contributed four goals and three assists to help them avoid relegation.

Brajan, whose father played in the UEFA Cup for Albanian team Vllaznia, played his youth football for his home town club FC Speyer before joining FC Karlsruher in 2015 where he spent three seasons in their academy prior to his move to Mainz in 2018.

He made his Bundesliga debut in 2023 aged 18 against Borussia Dortmund and has played for Germany at all age groups from the age of 15 and has made seven under-21 appearances. Earlier this year he was included in Germany’s training squad ahead of the 2024 Euros.

OSMAN JOINS FEYENOORD ON LOAN

Ibrahim Osman has joined Eredivisie side Feyenoord on a season-long loan
(c) Sky Sports

The Ghana international joined us on a five-year contract from Nordsjaelland earlier this summer.

David Weir said:

“Ibrahim has had a good pre-season with the squad.

“We have strong competition in the wide areas and the feeling is that it is much better for Ibrahim’s development for him to be playing regular senior football.

“This is an excellent opportunity for him to play at Feyenoord and we will be watching his progress as the season unfolds.”

The 20-year-old made 44 appearances for Nordsjaelland last season, scoring ten goals and assisting eight.

Feyenoord won the Johan Cruyff earlier this month, before opening their league campaign on Saturday with a 1-1 draw with Willem II.

Following a second-place league finish last season, Feyenoord have qualified for the group stages of this campaign’s Champions League.

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