Oxford United are delighted to announce the signing of Brian De Keersmaecker from Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo.
The Belgian midfielder arrives after winning his club’s player of the year award last season, scoring five goals and providing three assists.
One of the most exciting midfielders in the Dutch league, the former Heracles captain becomes the first signing of the summer under Gary Rowett.
Speaking exclusively to OUTV, the 25-year-old said he is ready to make an immediate impact in yellow.
He said: “I’ve shown at previous clubs that I can be a very important player. It is my aim that I can do the same here at Oxford United and be even better than before.
“There have been a lot of conversations with the people at the Club. I spoke to the Head Coach several times and he gave me a good feeling that I am going to be important here.
“This is a big step in my own self development. I’m ready for this challenge, to move to a new city, and perform in such a competitive league.
“As a player, I’m very aggressive. As soon as we lose the ball, I want to get it back as quickly as possible. You will always see me giving 100 percent for the cause.
“I will do everything I can to bring more success to this Club, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Head Coach, Gary Rowett, said: “Brian was a player who was brought to my attention very early on when I joined the Club.
“We had the chance to watch Brian play in person last season and you could see his attributes immediately. He can control a game of football with his quality in possession, and he also has an outstanding work rate off the ball.
“He is a fantastic addition to the group. We feel he is ready to be an important player for the Club and will raise the level of our ceiling.”
Head of Football Operations, Ed Waldron, said: “Brian is a major step forward for the Club. We’ve paid a significant fee to acquire Brian, which shows the level of backing and support from our shareholders.
“There has been an incredible amount of work put in from the whole Recruitment department to make this happen. From initial video analysis to in-depth in-person scouting and then to the negotiations, we have worked tirelessly to make this happen.
“Brian is a player of the highest quality. We are all delighted that he’s joining us and excited to see him in action.”
