No surprises as Brighton send Tau to Belgium on loan
Bafana star to gain experience in 8-team league
Brighton & Hove Albion striker Percy Tau will have to wait at least another year before fulfilling his dream of playing in the English Premiership after being loaned out to Royale Union SaintGilloise in Belgium.
Tau will temporality ply his trade in the Belgian Second Division after failing to secure a work permit in England.
Development pathway manager at Brighton David Weir said the English side have big plans for Tau.
“Percy is a talent we have brought to the club for the future, and this loan allows him to play regular senior football here in Europe,” Weir said on the club’s website.
“It is a significant investment for us, and we will be closely watching his progress with Union and monitoring his development over the season.”
The 24-year-old joined Brighton last month from Absa Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns for a reported R50-million transfer on a four-year deal.
The reigning Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season could not meet the strict Visa requirements in the UK that require a player to
‘‘ Percy Tau is a talent we have brought to the club for the future
have played a certain number of games for his national team.
The Emalahleni, Mpumalanga-born Bafana star scored 13 goals in all competitions for the Brazilians last season to help them to their record eighth league title.
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise finished sixth last season in the eight-club, second-tier league, in Belgium.
They are currently bottom of the table after two losses in their opening games. Tau could make his debut on Saturday against Westerlo.
The club welcomed Tau on their website, saying: “Royale Union Saint-Gilloise is pleased to welcome South African forward Percy Tau. Our new striker, who comes on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, signed a one-year contract in Saint-Gilles.
“Before being hired by Brighton this summer, he played in his homeland at Mamelodi Sundowns, a team with which he won the 2016 African Champions League and two championship titles.”