Brighton sign Austria defender Michael Svoboda from Venezia
Brighton have completed the signing of Austrian defender Michael Svoboda from Serie B champions Venezia on a four-year deal.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ).
Brighton have signed Austrian defender Michael Svoboda from Serie B champions Venezia on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old centre-back is currently representing Austria at the World Cup and will join head coach Fabian Hurzeler's squad later this summer.
Svoboda captained Venezia to the Serie B title last season. Hurzeler praised the defender's qualities, noting his suitability for the team's tactical requirements:
Michael has enjoyed a fantastic season with Venezia, captaining them to the league title. He has a number of attributes that we believe will see him adapt well to how we play, both in and out of possession. Fabian Hurzeler
This move is part of a significant defensive overhaul at the Amex Stadium. Brighton have also secured Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk and agreed a club-record £46m deal for Croatia's Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham. These reinforcements come in the wake of the £52m sale of Jan Paul van Hecke to Spurs earlier this window.