Knockaert wings in to join Albion

Winger Joins Albion from Standard Liege.
Chris Hughton. Photograph: Paul HazlewoodChris Hughton. Photograph: Paul Hazlewood
Chris Hughton. Photograph: Paul Hazlewood

Winger Anthony Knockaert has joined Albion from Standard Liege on a three-and-a-half year contract from Standard Liege.

The transfer for the 24-year-old is still subject to international clearance and Albion manager Chris Hughton said: "Once I knew that there was a possibility that Anthony was available, he was somebody I was interested in bringing to the club for a number of reasons.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"He is a different type of player to the wide players we have here; he can play in three positions, on the left, off the front man, but predominantly in his previous time here in England he played on the right side.

"He is a very good technical, offensive player, and has experience of playing in the Championship, in a team who played a 4-4-2 system, and he is used to having a responsibility in the wide areas - but mostly it is what he can bring us offensively in terms of goals and assists."

Born in Roubaix, in the north of France, on the Belgian border, he began his senior professional career with Guingamp in 2009; there he helped the club win promotion from the third to the second tier of French football in 2011.

He transferred to Leicester City in August 2012, signing a three-year contract with the Foxes, and helped the club reach the play-offs in his first season at the club, although they were knocked out at the semi-final stage.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The following season Leicester won automatic promotion, and he played an integral part in their success as they won the Championship.

Last summer, after a season in the Premier League, Knockaert rejected a new contract at Leicester to sign for Belgian top-flight side Standard Liege; having made 82 starts and 24 substitute appearances, and scored 13 goals for the Foxes.

In the first half of the current season, he played 20 times for Liege, scoring five goals in the Belgian Pro League, prior to his return to England with Albion.

Subject to international clearance, Hughton has confirmed it's likely he will be available for selection against Rotherham on Tuesday.