Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Netherlands international defender Joel Veltman from Ajax Amsterdam.
Veltman joins the Seagulls after agreeing terms on a three-year contract, having had an impressive career with the dutch side. The 28-year-old has been through the youth ranks at Ajax and leaves with three Eredivise titles while featuring in the team of the year on three different occasions.
✍️ Albion have today completed the signing of defender Joel Veltman from @AFCAjax!#BHAFC ⚪️
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 29, 2020
“We’re delighted to welcome Joel to the club,” head coach Graham Potter said. “He has terrific experience from his time with Ajax including the Champions League and, of course, with the Dutch national team.
“He’s an excellent defender who can play at right-back and at centre-half, but he’s also comfortable in possession. He is really looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Premier League and we’re delighted he is now a Brighton player and we’re looking forward to working with him.”
Premier League will now be his newest challenge in the career of Veltman who has been called 22 times into the national team. The central defender was also a member of the 2014 Netherlands team who finished third at the World Cup in Brazil.
@joel_veltman #BHAFC ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/gF4cetb0lF
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 29, 2020
The 28-year-old also featured in the 2017 Europa League final with Ajax where they lost to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
With the acquisition of Veltman, he becomes the second player to arrive at the AMEX Stadium this week following the signing of Adam Lallana from Liverpool on a free transfer.
Prior to the cancellation of the Dutch season, Veltman started 19 of the league games keeping six clean sheets in the process. He also started five of Ajax’s Champions League games in the group stage.
#BHAFC ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/fVw1dvVtKE
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 29, 2020
