Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion have signalled their intent for a promotion challenge this season with the signing of Wayne Bridge from Manchester City.
The 31-year-old left back has made a move to the South Coast outfit on a season long loan deal, his third move of this kind in the last three seasons.
Seagulls manager Gus Poyet had been pursuing Bridge as one of his summer transfer targets and expressed his delight at the move on the club’s website, saying: “He’s been one of the top three left backs in this country for many years. We have all got to learn from him and I’m sure that he will have a very good season with us.
“It’s going to be very nice to sit back and watch him on the pitch.”
Frozen out
Bridge made his professional debut for Southampton in 1998 but has had his playing time severely restricted in recent seasons at the Etihad Stadium.
Currently behind Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy in the pecking order at Eastlands, Bridge has only played eight league games for the Premier League champions in the last two years.
He only made one appearance last season in all competitions for City, which was a League Cup victory over Birmingham City last September.
He moved to Eastlands from Chelsea in January 2009 for £10m, with his most memorable moment in a Manchester jersey being his public refusal to shake former team-mate John Terry’s hand after a personal dispute between the pair two years ago.
Bridge has had loan spells at West Ham United and Sunderland in the last two campaigns and made ten appearances for the Black Cats during the 2011/12 season.
Having been totally frozen out at the defending Premier League champions, the former England international defender will be hoping to show he still has proven qualities in the Championship and revitalise a career that has stalled dramatically in recent times.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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