Bees bag Jansson

Championship side Brentford have raided Leeds United for central defender Pontus Jansson. 

A key member of the Leeds team that crashed out of last season's Championship play-offs to Derby County, Jansson has made the switch to Griffin Park for an undisclosed fee. 

The Swedish international has signed a three-year contract, which includes an option to keep Jansson for a further year until June 2023. 

📈 Most goals from CORNERS (C'ship; fr. 2016/17):
8⚽: Chester
7⚽: M Morrison
6⚽: 🐝@PJansson5🐝, A Flint, S Morrison#BrentfordFC @BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/TEMZ7OTutL

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) July 9, 2019

The signing constitutes something of a coup for Brentford, with Leeds widely expected to challenge for automatic promotion again next season. Jansson was named in the 2018/19 Championship PFA Team of the Season, scoring three goals in 39 league games, and Brentford Head Coach, Thomas Frank backed Jansson to make an impact at his new club.

“We are very pleased with Pontus’ arrival. The defence is an area that we have been looking to strengthen and we feel that Pontus will bring a lot to the group. Pontus will add to the quality and competition for places that we need to adapt to different situations over the course of the season," said Frank. 

“Pontus is a top defender who brings immense professionalism, a great attitude, experience, defensive robustness, leadership qualities, and threat from set pieces to our side. 

"Everyone knows about the Brentford model, but to develop the young players we have here, we also need experience and quality in the squad to get the perfect balance. To have someone with his CV turn down other offers to join us shows where we stand as a club now.”

Let’s do this! 🙌🔝 @BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/lCFpIjPcE1

— Pontus Jansson (@PJansson5) July 9, 2019