Brighton & Hove Albion complete the signing of a £25m midfielder from Feyenoord amid reports of a ‘frantic’ hijack attempt from Liverpool’s Arne Slot.
Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of defensive midfielder Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord.
It has been confirmed by Feyenoord that the 24-year-old Netherlands international has been sold to the Seagulls for “a record amount” believed to be €30m (£25.4m).
Wieffer has put pen to paper on a five-year contract at the Amex Stadium until June 2029 after travelling to England to complete his medical on Friday.
Brighton have successfully won the race for Wieffer’s signature despite reports of a ‘frantic’ hijack attempt from Liverpool, who are now managed by former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot.
Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf claims that Slot was keen to reunite with Wieffer at Anfield and Liverpool made contact with the midfielder’s entourage earlier this week to discuss a potential switch to Merseyside.
However, Wieffer had already verbally agreed terms with Brighton and made it clear that his heart was set on a move to Seagulls, who are said to have held an interest in the Dutchman for some time.
Mats Wieffer ➡️ @OfficialBHAFC
Thank you for two amazing years, Mats! ♥️
— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) July 5, 2024
Wieffer ‘could not say no to’ to Brighton transfer
Wieffer, who allegedly turned down the chance to join Atletico Madrid in January, won the Eredivisie title under Slot in 2022-23 and he now departs Feyenoord after making 79 appearances across two seasons, scoring nine goals and registering 11 assists.
Commenting on his departure from Feyenoord, Wieffer told the Dutch club’s official website: “It all happened very quickly in the past few days. I hope to be able to personally say goodbye to the people at Feyenoord with whom I have worked so intensively in recent years next week”.
“Every now and then I have to pinch myself when I think back on the past two years,” Wieffer added. “Becoming champion, playing in the Champions League with Feyenoord, winning the cup, seeing De Kuip and the Coolsingel in ecstasy: those are all things you dream of as a footballer.
“I count myself lucky that I have experienced it and that I have been able to play for such a wonderful club as Feyenoord. Of course I will miss the players, the staff and everyone else around the first team and it feels strange to say goodbye to the supporters and Rotterdam, but this is an opportunity that I cannot say no to.
“That is why I am really looking forward to this new adventure, but before that happens I want to thank all Feyenoorders for the great time.”
Wieffer is a Seagull! 🤩🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/mSgRboNRIq
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 5, 2024
Wieffer becomes Brighton’s second summer signing since the appointment of new head coach Fabian Hurzeler after 19-year-old attacker Yankuba Minteh.
“We’re delighted to welcome Mats to the club, a player whose qualities we have admired for a long time,” technical director David Weir told Brighton’s official website.
“He has a lot of experience in the Champions League as well as the Eredivisie and has developed into one of the best deep-lying midfielders in Europe.
“We obviously have Dutch players here already in Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul van Hecke and Joel Veltman and I’m sure they will help Mats settle into the club. We’re looking forward to helping Mat’s career develop with Brighton.”
Wieffer will now link up with his new Brighton teammates ahead of the club’s pre-season tour of Japan later this month, and he could make his competitive debut for the Seagulls in their opening Premier League game of the 2024-25 season away against Everton on August 17.