“Something unique” – Director thrilled with sale to Brighton player will be in ‘good hands’ with Hürzeler.
On winter deadline day, Brighton & Hove Albion completed the signing of Stefanos Tzimas from 1. FC Nürnberg and sent him back on loan until the end of this season.
The second division German club signed him from PAOK on loan with an option to buy last summer. They exercised the purchase option, believed to be €18m, and then sold him to the Seagulls for a reported fee of €25m.
According to inFranken.de, the 19-year-old’s move to Brighton is one of the biggest sales of 2.Bundelsiga. The current record is at €35m when VfB Stuttgart [they were then in the second division] sold Benjamin Pavard to Bayern Munich in 2019.
The outlet has also relayed comments from Nürnberg board of director Joti Chatzialexiou.
On Tzimas’ transfer to Brighton, he said: “It is something unique for 1. FC Nürnberg to carry out an international transfer, especially of this magnitude.”
He knows Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler and his assistant, Daniel Niedzkowski, from their time at the German football association.
Chatzialexiou insists the Greece U21 international will be in good hands with Hürzeler at The Amex.
“Through my time at the DFB, I know Brighton’s manager Fabian Hürzeler and assistant coach Daniel Niedzkowski and I’m firmly convinced that he is in good hands with them,” Chatzialexiou explained.
“It is a great next step for Stefanos, and we wish him all the best and much success from the summer onwards.”
Nürnberg sporting director Olaf Rebbe is of the belief the young frontman’s sale to the English club has helped his side gain more visibility internationally. Kicker have relayed his comments.
“Many people laughed at us in the summer for offering Stefanos the option to buy. As a result, the club has become more relevant beyond the borders of Germany,” he added.
