Brighton sign goalkeeper Mat Ryan for a club-record £5.2m
It is the deal we were all waiting to happen – Brighton and Hove Albion have finally confirmed the capture of goalkeeper Mat Ryan for a club record fee in excess of £5m from Valencia.
The Australian number one played all three games for his country at the 2014 World Cup and helped the Socceroos (stupid name) win the 2015 Asian Cup despite the fact that they aren’t in Asia. That allowed them to qualify for the Confederations Cup, in which Ryan is currently taking part. So we’ll have to wait a little longer for the obligatory ‘new signing holds shirt up like a parachute’ photo.
He has top flight experience in Australia, Belgium and Spain. Ryan won two Jupiler League Goalkeeper of the Season awards during his time with Club Brugge as well as lifting the Belgian Cup. That attracted the interest of Liverpool and a host of other top European sides but it was Valencia who eventually made a move, tying him down to a six year contract last season.
He kept a clean sheet on his debut for the Spanish giants but found first team opportunites limited and was loaned back to Belgium for the second half of the season, this time with Genk for whom he kept 11 clean sheets in 24 appearances.
He has done all that by the age of 25 which is still young by goalkeeping standards given that most keepers don’t hit their peak until their late 20s and early 30s. That means there is some sell on value there as the likelihood is he is going to have plenty of opportunities to show how good he is this season, right from day one when Manchester City visit.
Ryan will take over as the Seagulls number one from David Stockdale who turned down a new deal at the Amex in favour of visiting the likes of Burton Albion and Millwall with Birmingham City next season.
