Albion have signed 11 players over the summer
Image by: Paul Hazlewood
So the transfer window has closed once more and there was no last-minute drama at Brighton & Hove Albion; however there was plenty of movement throughout the summer.The story started way back in May when the managerless Seagulls, fresh from Oscar Garcia’s departure, released numerous players and brought in the first of 11 signings over the course of four months.
Goalkeepers Tomasz Kuszczak and Peter Brezovan were not offered new deals and Andrea Orlandi, Will Hoskins, David Lopez and David Rodriguez were also released.
Loanees Keith Andrews, Jesse Lingard and Stephen Ward all returned to their respective clubs while Player of the Year Matthew Upson penned a deal with Premier League newboys Leicester City.
Albion’s first new face was midfielder Nzuzi Toko, who joined from Swiss side Grasshoppers Zurich before former Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia was unveiled as the new manager.
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Striker Chris O’Grady was brought in from Barnsley as Albion’s 2013/14 top scorer and fans’ favourite Leo Ulloa was snapped up by Leicester, and the hero of the Amex's first league game against Doncaster, Will Buckley, also headed to the Premier League, where he has been reunited with former Seagulls boss Gus Poyet at Sunderland.
Goalkeeper David Stockdale was next in, joining from relegated Fulham before a quiet few weeks of activity ensued.
Hyypia’s Liverpool contacts then paid dividends as Steven Gerrard recommended midfielder Joao Teixeira, who agreed a season-long loan with the Seagulls.
Teixeira’s arrival seemed to trigger a whirlwind couple of weeks as two days later Dutchman Danny Holla moved from Den Haag, Northern Irish midfielder Paddy McCourt swiftly followed after a successful trial, and both Joe Bennett and Gary Gardner joined on loan from Aston Villa.
Hyypia’s final two additions came in attack with striker Adrian Colunga coming in from Getafe and 2013/14 League One Golden Boot winner Sam Baldock signing from Bristol City. Heading in the other direction, Shamir Fenelon went on loan to League Two Rochdale and Vitalijs Maksimenko joined VVV-Venlo on loan to complete a hectic summer of activity.
[h=2]UPCOMING HOME FIXTURES[/h][h=3]ALBION V blackpool
[/h]saturday 20TH september, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V cardiff
[/h]SATURDAY 30th september, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]Albion v middlesbrough
[/h]saturDAY 18TH october, kick-off 3pm
Original article