Brighton & Hove Albion have agreed their first signing since becoming a Premier League club, with Chris Hughton tying up a deal for Pascal Gross.
The Seagulls will play top-flight football for the first time since the 1982/83 season next term, having finished runners-up to Newcastle United in the Championship. And Hughton has wasted little time in adding to his options, having clinched a deal to take midfield player Gross from Ingolstadt for an undisclosed fee when the transfer window reopens on June 10.
“We are delighted that Pascal has opted to sign for us,” said Hughton, who is likely to make several more signings before the big kick-off in August. “He will give us a different and new option going into the new season. He offers something different to our existing midfielders, as an attacking midfielder in a more advanced position, operating behind the forward line.”
Gross has scored four goals in 34 appearances for the Bundesliga club this season, although he has been unable to prevent them from dropping out of the top-flight. Previously, the former Germany Under-19 international played for Hoffenheim and Karlsruhe, but is now set to spend four years in England after agreeing a contract of such length at the Falmer Stadium.
Meanwhile, Hughton has been dealt a blow with the news that first choice goalkeeper David Stockdale has rejected the offer of a new contract. The 31-year-old, who played 45 times in their promotion season, is out of contract this summer and now looks set to move on, with reports claiming champions Chelsea could move for him if they sell current back-up Asmir Begovic.
