Saturday, 17 July 2021 at 15:33• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 15:42

Feyenoord has strengthened the selection with Alireza Jahanbakhsh. The 27-year-old wing attacker comes over from Brighton & Hove Albion FC and signs a contract for three seasons until 2024 in De Kuip with an option for another season, the club confirms on Saturday afternoon. Feyenoord tweets a video of the Iranian acquisition that reads ‘I’m here!’ in Persian.

Technical director Frank Arnesen is happy with the arrival of the former top scorer in the Eredivisie, who is said to cost several million euros: “With Alireza we add the desired offensive reinforcement to the selection. A player who has proven to be a high return for several seasons. Moreover, he is now in the phase of his career where he can quickly be of enormous added value to us.”

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— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) July 17, 2021

Jahanbaksh himself hopes to live up to those expectations, he says. “I can’t wait to get back on the field. During my time at AZ as an assistant coach, Arne Slot was one of the people who helped me to become a better player. So when he called and asked if I could go to Feyenoord wanted to come, I told him I was going to do everything I could to make this transfer. I had no doubts.”

Jahanbakhsh had a contract with Brighton until mid-2023. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old attacker will have the opportunity to return to the Netherlands two years before the expiry of the contract. Under manager Graham Potter could not count on a permanent place for some time. He leaves the Seagulls with 61 appearances (4 goals and 2 assists) to his name. The Premier League club deposited 25 million euros for him in 2018.

In addition to Jahanbakhsh, Feyenoord also had Garry Rodrigues and Javairô Dilrosun in the picture in the search for a suitable successor for Steven Berghuis who left for Ajax. Bringing in the Brighton attacker turned out to be the most realistic option in the end. The English previously let Davy Pröpper return to PSV and are now also prepared to let Jahanbakhsh go to Feyenoord.