Junior Hoilett has signed a four-year contract with Queens Park Rangers after his deal at relegated Blackburn Rovers expired, Sky Sports understands.
Hoilett, a former Blackburn youth starlet, bagged seven goals and six assists in 37 appearances (35 starts) in all competitions for Rovers in 2011-12.
The Canadian-born attacker’s move to Loftus Road (White City, London) from Ewood Park (Blackburn, Lancashire) will reunite him with former Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes. Because of his age, a tribunal will decide the 22-year-old’s transfer fee.
The Riversiders’ must now attempt to regain promotion from the English Championship to the English Premier League without the likes of Hoilett, the club’s second leading goal scorer in the Premier League last term, and top scorer Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who joined Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F this summer.
As a result, it’s surely safe to assume that Rovers will not gain promotion to England’s top flight next season.
“QPR are a club that are certainly heading in the right direction,” Hoilett told www.qpr.co.uk. “The ambition to take this club to the next level was something I really wanted to be part of.
“The manager and the owners have huge ambitions to achieve things here and this is the perfect place for me to further my career.”
QPR manager Mark Hughes has been quite busy this summer, bringing the likes of Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), Samba Diakite (Nancy), Robert Green (West Ham), Ryan Nelsen (Tottenham), Andrew Johnson (Fulham) and Fabio (Manchester United, loan) to Loftus Road.
Now then, Hughes also played a significant role in Queens Park Rangers’ capture of Hoilett.
“The manager obviously played a big part in my decision to come here,” added the winger. “He’s someone I know well here having worked with him and his backroom team at Blackburn.
“I signed my first professional contract under him and I will always remember that and be grateful to him. Working under such a great manager will help me to develop my skills and further my career.”
Ajax keen on Scott Dann
Blackburn Rovers centre-back Scott Dann has emerged as a summer transfer target for Dutch Eredivisie champions Ajax Amsterdam, according to the Daily Mail.
Dann wants out of Blackburn following the club’s relegation from the Premier League last term, and rightfully so.
Ajax want the former Walsall Football Club defender on loan, while Premier League newcomers Reading and Southampton have also contacted Blackburn regarding the 25-year-old.
Both Reading and Southampton have been put off by Dann’s £6 million release clause, but the Eredivisie giants are both interested and in need of a centre-back following Jan Vertonghen’s move to Tottenham.
Will the former Birmingham City man exit Ewood Park this summer?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
