Brighton & Hove Albion have signed midfielder, Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord for £25,4m.
Wieffer’s arrival marks a club-record transfer sale for Feyenoord, with the 24 year-old having scored nine goals and made 10 assists in 79 appearances across last two seasons for the Dutch club.
Wieffer has signed a five-year contract and is the second signing under new manager, Fabian Hürzeler, with the midfielder excited to play under Hürzeler this season.
“I think he is a nice guy. He explained me the way they want to play next season and it’s quite similar to what I was used to when I played at Feyenoord. The impressions are really good and I’m really looking forward to getting started.
“Brighton have been following me for a long period already and the way the club plays and the fact it’s a nice place to live is why I chose Brighton. And I already know a couple of the players.”
Wieffer will be reunited with his former Feyenoord teammate, Yankuba Minteh who last weekend joined from Newcastle United,, plus his fellow Dutch international – Bart Verbruggen.
“Bart said that you can really develop as a player here and you see it also with the transfers the club has already made, like Minteh,” revealed Wieffer who also is eager to fulfil his ambition to play in the Premier League.
“It was always a dream to play in the Premier League, because it’s the highest level. Last season I played Champions League but every week in the Premier League you have to be at that high level. That will be the biggest challenge for me.”
Wieffer is a versatile midfielder who can play a box to box style but he best prefers the number six role in terms of his playing qualities.
“I also can play box to box, but I prefer to play at six, to join the build-up, to play a lot of balls forward,” he added. “I like one-touch play a lot too and, of course, if you play six you have to win a lot of duels. Those are my qualities and sometimes I score as well, maybe in set pieces.”
Wieffer also issued a farewell message to Feyenoord fans in which he spoke of feeling the need to “pinch” himself at his success at the club, which included 2022-23 Eredivisie title then KNVB Cup last season.
“Becoming champions, playing Champions League with Feyenoord, winning the cup, seeing De Kuip and the Coolsingel in ecstasy: these are all things you dream of as a footballer.
“I consider myself lucky to have experienced it and to have been able to play for such a wonderful club as Feyenoord. Of course I’m going to 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 I can’t say no to. I’m really looking forward to this new adventure, but before that happens, I would like to thank all the Feyenoord players for the great time.”
Wieffer will return to Feyenoord next week to say a proper farewell to the club and the staff.
Wieffer began his career at RKSV Neo before he joined FC Twente where he made two senior appearances, prior to a move to Excelsior where he netted six goals in 77 appearances.