Hull City are closing in on the signing of Steven Alzate following his departure from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 25-year-old was released from the Sussex club following the end of last season, having struggled to get into Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potters’ sides over the past few years. The previous two campaigns saw him loaned out to Belgian side Standard Liege, where he made 54 appearances.
Coming through the academy system at Albion after signing from Leyton Orient, the midfielder looks set to return to the EFL since a loan spell at Swindon Town in 2019. According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Tim Walter’s side are now set to sign the 25-year-old on a free transfer.
Previous reports over the transfer have noted that a medical has already been completed with the move close to being finalised. Football Insider has since revealed that the Colombian international will sign a two-year deal with an option of a further 12 months on Humberside.
Multiple clubs targeted a move for the midfielder in January, with Rangers, Girona and Sevilla all pursuing a deal whilst he was out on loan in Belgium. The Scottish giants ultimately signed FC Nordsjaelland’s Mohammed Diomande on loan, with Phillipe Clement’s side making that move permanent in the summer.
Alzate will join a Hull City side that is yet to win this season but have secured three draws and one loss in the league. Their last match before the international break saw them fall to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.
The Tigers had a busy final few days in the transfer window, securing four new players including Norwich City‘s Abu Kamara and Kasey Palmer from Coventry City. The departure of Jean Michel Seri to Saudi Arabia has opened up a space for a new defensive midfielder, which the former Brighton man will fill.
His lack of regular game time and injury record has cost him over recent international breaks, having missed out on Colombia’s Copa America squad in the summer. Alzate last featured in November 2022, collecting his seventh cap with a substitute appearance against Peru.
Writer’s View
Tim Walter is now set to secure his replacement to Jean Michel Seri in Steven Alzate, which in the long-term could be a great move. At 25 he still is young and will be eager to prove himself after a tough few years in his career. Hull City are still a team challenging to reach last season’s highs with Liam Rosenior and a proven Premier League option like the Colombian will go far in helping them realise their goals.
He arrives in East Yorkshire at the perfect time, having not been picked for his nation again he now has a week to learn how Walter wants to deploy him and can train his fitness back up to where his new teammates would be. Injuries to his groin and having surgery on his ankle does point to some fitness concerns but if he manages to avoid them, then The Tigers will have a very strong midfield going into their match against Sheffield United next Friday.
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