Barnsley FC sign long-time Polish target and line up other signings

BARNSLEY have completed the signing of Polish defender Michał Helik - their fourth addition of the close season.
New Barnsley signing Michal Helik. Picture courtesy of Barnsley FC.New Barnsley signing Michal Helik. Picture courtesy of Barnsley FC.
New Barnsley signing Michal Helik. Picture courtesy of Barnsley FC.

The Cracovia centre-half - who celebrated his 25th birthday today, has signed a three-year deal.

Helik, who has also played in his homeland with Ruch Chorzow, has been a long-time target of Barnsley and was linked with the club last summer.

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Chorzow-born Helik - a member of the Cracovia side who secured a historic first-ever success in the Polish Cup last season - completed a medical at Oakwell on Wednesday ahead of signing.for Gerhard Struber's side, who begin the Championship season with a home game against Luton Town on Saturday.

Helik will provide some competition in the back line, with Ben Williams expected to be out for the season with a serious knee injury and Bambo Diaby remaining suspended, with the Football Association still investigating an alleged anti-doping violation after last November's game at Blackburn Rovers.

The Reds, who sold Jacob Brown to Stoke for a seven-figure fee earlier in the day - believed to be worth over £2million - are also in the market for several other targets including Celtic striker Jack Aitchison, 20, who scored six times during a loan spell at Forest Green last season.

On Helik's signing, Reds CEO Dane Murphy commented: "As a club, we have been looking at Michal for a long time and as soon as a deal was possible, we jumped all over it.

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"He is exactly the kind of defender we covet and he will complement our backline as we head into the new season."

Helik's signing comes after the capture of former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Isaac Christie-Davies earlier this week.

The Reds had previously snapped up Austrian midfielder Dominic Frieser and Red Bull Salzburg right-sided defender Kilian Ludewig, who has joined on a season-long loan.

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