Viktor Gyokeres signs new three-year Brighton deal

Brighton and Hove Albion Under 23 striker Viktor Gyokeres has signed a new deal which will keep with the club until the summer of 2022.

The Swede has had a hugely impressive 2018-19 season. He’s scored eight times in 24 games for Simon Rusk’s development squad, made his first team debut in August’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Southampton and also impressed in four appearances during the first team’s run to the semi finals of the FA Cup.

Gyokeres started in the fourth round replay away at West Bromwich Albion with cameos from the bench coming in the Baggies trip to the Amex, away at Plucky Little Bournemouth in the third round and home to Frank Lampard’s Derby County in the fifth.

The striker has also achieved the impressive feat of making his international debut for Sweden before he’s played a competitive league game, although whether his two appearances count is a matter for debate given that they both came in matches not officially recognised by FIFA.

His first game for his country was a 1-0 defeat to Finland on January 8th this year and his second saw him score his first goal, notching in a 2-2 draw against Iceland. Both matches were played in Qatar as the Nordic FA’s look to build links ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Gyokeres’ form both for the Under 23s and during his brief spell with the Swedish national team have led many Albion fans to picket for his promotion to the senior side as, let’s face it, given how woeful Jurgen Locadia and Alireza Jahanabakhsh have looked at times this season, he couldn’t do much worse. Chris Hughton named him on the bench for November’s Premier League matches against Cardiff City and Everton and January’s visit to Manchester United but he is yet to make his debut.

He is clearly highly rated however, given that his inclusion on those three occasions came in favour of Aaron Connolly who has been in blistering form, attracting attention from the likes of Hoffenheim and both Manchester clubs.

Connolly put pen to a paper on a new deal of his own in January which, like Gyokeres, keeps him at the Amex until 2022. He’s currently on loan at League One promotion chasers Luton Town, for whom he has made one substitute appearance so far in an injury-hit spell at glamorous Kenilworth Road.

Gyokeres arrived in Sussex from Swedish second tier side IF Brommapojkarna in January last year for a fee believed to be around a cool £1 million. In a rather quaint story, his girlfriend Amanda Nildén moved to England with him, had a trial with the Albion’s women’s side and ended up being signed as well. She happens to be extremely fit, as is Viktor actually.

Gyokeres netted 11 goals in 15 games in his first half a season with Brighton, taking his total so far to 19 in 39. Given that he doesn’t turn 21 until June and with a long term deal now under his belt, it will be interesting to see whether Hughton gives him a chance to prove themselves in the senior squad next season or whether he will be sent out on loan to gain first team experience lower down the leagues.

Either way, having two such talented young strikers as Gyokeres and Connolly committed to the club can only be a good thing. Especially as goals have become as rare a commodity as rocking horse shit at the minute.