Leeds United deal helps meet PSR rules as Hull City push to meet deadline with sales
LEEDS UNITED defender Pascal Struijk has sealed his move to Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.
The Belgium-born player (pictured), who was due to start the final year of his contract on Wednesday, joined United as a teenager from Ajax Amsterdam in 2018.
The deal is thought to be worth around £20m. A future sell-on clause is included in the transfer.
Struijk, who has been subject of transfer interest and offers from elsewhere throughout his time in West Yorkshire - including last summer - made 196 appearances for the club.
The sale also helps Leeds to remain fully compliant within profit and sustainability (PSR) rules over a three-year accounting window ending on June 30.
Leeds did previously table a significantly improved contract offer to the Dutch youth international - promoted twice to the Premier League in his stint with United - and his representatives ahead of him entering the final 12 months of his contract.
But Struijk, who made 34 top-flight appearances last term and captained the side on several occasions while at Leeds, was keen to pursue a new challenge after previously showing loyalty to the Elland Road outfit, with the United hierarchy receptive to his wishes.
Hull City forward Kyle Joseph was finalising his £5million move to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night as The Yorkshire Post went to press.
The Premier League newcomers had been pitted in a race against time to raise £6million before the end of June in order to avoid breaching PSR rules (PSR) over a three-year registered period - and potentially incurring a points deduction in the Premier League in 2026-27.
PSR criteria allow clubs operating in the Championship to lose up to £39million over a three-year cycle.
Hull have lined up the sale of Joseph to Boro alongside the £6m transfer of goalkeeper Ivor Pandur to SPL giants Glasgow Rangers, with former England international Jack Butland heading the other way to East Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, winger Abu Kamara has been linked with a return to former club Portsmouth, who have maintained a long-standing interest in him.
Joseph is expected to be the first summer arrival at Boro and his switch is likely to be the precursor to star midfielder Hayden Hackney completing his £25m move to Everton, with a medical to reportedly begin on Wednesday.