Champions League midfielder joins Hull City as Tigers complete eye-catching transfer
Hull City have completed the eye-catching signing of Monaco midfielder Eliot Matazo on a three-and-a-half-year contract with the option for a further 12 months, in what is considered quite a coup for the Championship strugglers. Matazo goes straight into the squad for Friday night's Yorkshire derby at Sheffield United.
Matazo, who has three Champions League appearances under his belt earlier this season including one against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, arrives on a contract until 2029 after City agreed a fee with the Ligue 1 club, thought to be in the region of £2m, which could rise to around £2.5m. He passed a medical and signed terms on Monday before he watched the 2-1 home loss to QPR 24 hours later.
City have snared the Belgian ahead of other potential suitors, having capitalised in an impasse between Monaco and Nantes earlier this month - ironically, the club holding up their quest to sign winger Sorba Thomas.
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Monaco's number eight has represented Belgium at Under-16s, U18s and U21s level, to further underline his credentials. He made 84 appearances for the club, with 60 of those coming in France's top division. He scored a couple of goals, but his last appearance came off the bench against PSG just before Christmas, just one of three appearances in Ligue 1 this term.
That lack of football is why the determined performer has sought a move elsewhere. He arrives at City determined to earn a regular berth in Ruben Selles's squad, which has now been swelled by six arrivals so far this month.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder came through the ranks at Anderlecht before moving to Monaco. He spent the end of last season back in Belgium with Royal Antwerp.
"I will just say that I know the Monaco project and the Monaco people working there and the way that they work with their manager Adi Hütter, and any player from their system will fit and suit our system," Selles told Hull Live before the move was confirmed.
