The Seagulls have secured an £18 million deal for Leeds' versatile defender, bringing Premier League experience and ball-playing composure to a backline craving depth and leadership.
Brighton and Hove Albion have reportedly agreed an £18 million deal to sign Pascal Struijk from Leeds United, as per various sources late last night.
According to Sky Sports, the exact fee will be £15 million + £3 million in add-ons.
The deal has come with a lot of varied opinions, including from both Leeds and Brighton fans. While some Albion fans can see the value in the deal, others are questioning the depth options.
As for Leeds fans, a similar trend. Some appear to be gutted on social media. However, the resounding opinion has been that Struijk leaving for the reported figure is largely a steal for the Seagulls.
According to The Athletic, Leeds offered the Belgian-born defender a new contract, but he rejected it in the search for a new challenge.
A bumper contract and the chance to compete in European football will always be a strong sell to players approaching their prime years in the Premier League.
What type of player is Struijk? How does he compare?
The soon-to-be former Leeds man is a ball-playing, left-sided defender. He is left-footed, meaning his progressions are on the opposite side to Jan Paul Van Hecke. Struijk is a versatile defender and someone who can cover both in midfield and at left-back. Helpful considering the limited options for Albion in full-back areas!
Leeds fans have warned Albion fans about his tendency to make mistakes and have bad moments, which, of course, is very similar to Albion's past defenders too. However, Struijk has been a solid option for the Whites since breaking through in 2018. Playing 34 times for the club in the Premier League last season, with 182 total appearances for Leeds and 119 of those in the Premier League. Considering his level of experience and leadership quality, it is hard to believe he is just 26-years-old!
Struijk is very strong defensively, winning 123 interceptions last season and winning 53 ground duels, the same amount as Van Hecke, according to One Versus One statistics.
When it comes to progressing with the ball forwards, he doesn't compare quite as well. Still a decent option, without being a stand-out. However, they do both share a similar passing accuracy of around 84%.
Struijk has been criticised for his lack of pace and therefore could be a player who would need to operate in either a back three or alongside a quicker defender to mitigate errors. Lewis Dunk and Van Hecke are notoriously similar in this respect, and could suggest further business being done this summer to build a more stable defence.
Is he Van Hecke's replacement?
It has to be said, I cannot imagine Struijk being Van Hecke's replacement.
Not just because of being left-sided, but reports suggest the Seagulls are keen on a variety of additional centre-backs. Players like Joel Ordoñez, Luka Vuskovic, and Charlie Cresswell have all been linked to Albion in recent weeks.
Additionally, it is important to remember the sheer quantity of players departing the club this summer and their significance to the side. Players like Solly March, James Milner, and Adam Webster are all key leaders in the dressing room.
In terms of the number of defenders, the Seagulls could say goodbye to Igor Julio, Adam Webster, Van Hecke, Olivier Boscagli, and even Diego Coppola. Albion will be playing in the UEFA Conference League for the upcoming season, and strength in depth will be more important than ever.
Overall, it is hard to compare the two, with Van Hecke being the superior player at this stage.
However, Struijk appears to be a very strong squad option who could surprise a few with his experience, age, defensive strengths, and ball-playing abilities.
For less than £20 million, he is regarded on Roundtable as a very good piece of business, with the potential to exceed expectations.
