LEO LANDS!
SIGNING No 7 AS NORWEGIAN CENTRE HALF JOINS SKY BLUES ON A YEAR’S LOAN
COVENTRY City’s summer recruitment drive continues with the arrival of signing number seven, Leo Ostigard.
The 20-year-old centreback has joined the Sky Blues on a season-long deal from Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of their 2020-21 Championship campaign.
The Norway Under-21 international started out at Molde in his homeland before joining Brighton in 2018.
And he is highly thought of on the south coast after making a number of impressive performances for the club
during pre-season and on loan last term in Bundesliga.2 with St Pauli.
“He’s one of the top players for his age in European football,” said Coventry boss Mark Robins upon his unveiling.
But Ostingard could well
prove to be more than a loan signing for the Sky Blues with only one-year left on his current deal at the AMEX.
A string of impressive performances in the Championship for City and he could soon find himself being made similar promises to those made to midfielder Callum O’hare, who was successfully lured away from Aston Villa this summer.
Robins added: “Again it demonstrates the policy we’ve got at the club – bringing in young players to help with their careers, help them develop and help us to achieve our objectives during a season.”
There were a number of clubs interested in signing Ostigard this summer, Brighton and Hove Albion technical director Dan Ashworth revealed.
St Pauli were apparently keen to retain his services and it seems he caught the eye of others too in the build-up to the new season.
But Brighton are keen to see the youngster develop his game in England, following in the footsteps of former Leeds United loanee Ben White.
“The Championship has been an excellent testing ground for some of our young players in recent years and we want to see Leo to make the most of this opportunity,” Ashworth said.
“Playing in the Championship presents a different challenge to what he would have experienced last season in Germany.
“We’re looking forward to see how he adapts and we wish him well.”