Leeds United have edged Blackburn to the free transfer signing of Oldham Athletic striker Matt Smith.
Smith, 24, is out of contract at Boundary Park and will officially link up with Leeds on July 1, having signed a two-year deal at Elland Road.
The forward bagged 11 goals in 40 appearances for Oldham last season, including FA Cup strikes against Liverpool and Everton, and said he was elated to sign terms with the Championship side.
He told Yorkshire Radio: “(I am) absolutely delighted. Once I heard of the interest from Leeds, I was over the moon. It’s a massive club with a massive history. I’m really looking forward to it.
“I was taking my summer holidays in the month of May and I had a few bits of serious interest (but) once Leeds came in it was a no-brainer. Everything about the club is fantastic and hopefully I can do well here.”
Smith said he is looking forward to working with former Reading manager Brian McDermott, who was appointed at Leeds in April.
“What Brian has done at Reading, it is something he wants to do here,” he said.
“To take Reading to the Premier League is absolutely fantastic. Just from meeting him, you can sense his enthusiasm. He wants to do well for the club and I’m sure he will.”
McDermott was happy to have sealed his first signing of the summer and said Smith’s desire to succeed greatly appealed to him.
“I’m really pleased. I’ve got a really good vibe about him,” McDermott told the club’s official website.
“He’s not here to sit around and do nothing, he’s hungry to do well and achieve. I said we want hungry players to come into the club.
“They’re the players were talking to; players who want to achieve something. There’ll be no players coming here who don’t have that.”
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