Brighton have this morning completed the signing of Austrian left back Markus Suttner from Bundesliga side FC Ingolstadt 04.
The 30 year old defender has now joined his Brighton colleagues on our training camp in the Austrian Alps and he completed his medical and signed all the forms late last night.
Earlier this morning he trained with his new team mates for the first time and he becomes manager Chris Hughton’s third capture of the summer.
Hughton told the Official Site.
‘Markus is someone we have been aware of for some time, and I am pleased we have managed to complete the transfer at this stage, and he is now able to join us for the second half of the week. He has a great level of experience internationally, and in the top divisions in both his native Austria and Germany, where he has played the last two seasons with Ingolstadt, and that experience will serve us well. He will add competition at the back on the left side of defence, and I’m now looking forward to working with him.’
Suttner himself said of the move.
‘I am always prepared to fight and work hard, and I have been told that team is filled with good characters, who have fought together to achieve what they have and I am really happy to become part of the team. I have a 100% passion for success and want to be a leader on the pitch. I will play how the manager wants me to play. If he wants me to attack then I will and if I have to stay deep, then I will do this. I will do what the manager wants and what the team needs. I had a good season last year and now in this stage of my career, it’s perfect to play in the Premier League, and the challenge for Brighton is a similar one to the one I first encountered with Ingolstadt.’
Having represented Austria at the European Championships back in 2016, he has since hung up his international boots to focus on prolonging his club career and he added.
‘To sign this contract in Austria is a good feeling and a good moment. When I heard that Brighton was interested in me, I thought about it and it was clear I wanted to sign for Brighton. For me, the chance to play in the Premier League is one of the best options for any player and I’m very happy to be here. It’s a very good move at this time in my career, and I don`t have words to describe how happy I am to have signed the contract. I’m excited and keen to meet the players and start training.’
Helping him to settle will be former Ingolstadt teammate Pascal Gross who joined us at the end of last season.
‘I spoke with him in the past few weeks, but it was hard as it was taking a long time for the transfer to go through and it was a frustrating period. There are only good players in the Premier League and so many good teams here, I don’t want to single out one team or player who I am looking forward to playing against. My main aim is for success for us and to make sure we have a good season. That’s what interests me. My focus is now on getting to know the team in the coming days, see how we have to play and being ready for the new season.’
