Brighton & Hove Albion have signed 18-year-old Steven Alzate from Leyton Orient. He is expected to join the Seagull’s Academy for further development.
Chris Hughton’s side are bristling with confidence as they are set to ply their trade in the Premier League for the first time. They had a brilliant season and missed the Championship title by a whisker as Newcastle United lifted the title on the penultimate day of the season.
Alzate was a target of a number of clubs but the Seagulls managed to fend off interest from the other clubs and have taken him under their fold. The wonder kid came through the ranks of the O’s and has established himself at the club pretty comfortably.
The transfer fee is not yet disclosed but it is understood they have paid a three figure sum to secure his services. He has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Amex Stadium.
Alzate signed his first professional contract last year and broke onto the scene in February. He appeared 12 times in the League Two but following the O’s relegation, a move outside the club became very evident.
The youngster is the sixth player to arrive at the Amex Stadium as Hughton has done some excellent business in the transfer market as he has been preparing for life in the top tier for quite a while.
On being asked about the quality of the player, Seagulls’ under-23s coach Simon Rusk couldn’t hide his excitement. “We are delighted to welcome Steven into the squad.
“He is someone who did well to break into the Leyton Orient first team from their academy last season, and adds a new dimension to our attacking options.”
The youngster is expected to be used in the Cup games to enhance his experience in the top tier. He alerted the clubs with his triumphant display for Orient’s U-18 team last season as he netted 11 goals and racked up 22 assists for them.
Alzate’s move is supposed to be the first big step in his career as he is aiming to stamp his authority on the newly promoted side. It would be relatively easy for him to flourish at the club as he will have much less pressure than other big clubs.
Basically an attacking minded midfielder, he can be stationed in a number of positions and would be hoping to have a peek into the first team in the near future.
