Brighton snaps up Locadia from PSV for club-record fee

Brighton & Hove Albion's bid to stay in the Premier League received a boost Friday, as the south-coast side completed a club-record deal to sign Dutch striker Jurgen Locadia from PSV Eindhoven.

The transfer cost £14.1 million, according to Sky Sports, just a little more than what the Seagulls spent last August to make Jose Izquierdo their most expensive signing.

Locadia signed a contract with Brighton until June 2022.

"We are delighted to have signed Jurgen and pleased to welcome him to the club. He is a player we have been aware of for some time, and it's been no secret we have wanted to add a striker of his type," manager Chris Hughton said in a statement. "He is a strong, powerful, and quick centre-forward with a real eye for goal, and will increase our attacking options in the second half of the season."

Considering that Brighton is just three points above the relegation zone and one of the lowest-scoring sides in the Premier League, it will need every bit of Locadia's help. The Emmen native registered nine goals and six assists in 15 Eredivisie appearances this season, including a four-goal performance against FC Utrecht last September that won him international headlines.

Although the 24-year-old has yet to be capped by the Netherlands, he has received call-ups on three occasions.

Locadia followed in the footsteps of former PSV teammate Davy Propper in joining Brighton. Propper was briefly Brighton's club-record signing before Izquierdo arrived last summer.

Useful on the counter-attack and strong on the ball, Locadia is built in the image of a modern-day striker. He should challenge Glenn Murray - Brighton's leading scorer with seven tallies across all competitions - for a regular role in Chris Hughton's starting lineup.

Locadia finished his career at PSV with 45 goals and 32 assists in 127 league appearances.