A five-million-euro transfer fee, contract until summer 2030. Everything was finalized while Svoboda was at the World Cup in the USA.
He only had two weeks of vacation this summer. "If it were up to me, I would have started training with Brighton immediately, but you have to respect that the body also needs recovery sometimes," grins the player, who will become a father for the first time in October.
Why Brighton? "I really like the playing style – we want to have the ball, which is important for me in football. I enjoy having the ball at my feet. I am physically strong, good in duels and in aerial challenges. I'm also not the slowest player. That fits well into the concept," reports the four-time ÖFB national team player.
Praise from Coach Hürzeler
His coach Fabian Hürzeler says: "He is here because we see a lot of potential in him."
The German coach is particularly impressed by Svoboda's attitude.
"He has this intrinsic motivation to want to get better every day. After every training session, he goes to our analyst and asks what he can improve. That shows me he really wants it. There are things where you need talent, and there are talent-free areas. I believe he can become a top character and a top player in the talent-free areas," says the coach.
Plenty of competition
The competition is certainly strong. Last season's ninth-place finisher signed two more central defenders this summer. For a lot of money.
19-year-old Croatian Luka Vuskovic arrived from Tottenham Hotspur for 54 million euros, while Dutch player Pascal Struijk (26) was signed from Leeds United for 23.2 million. In return, Jan Paul van Hecke was sold to Tottenham for 60 million.
And then there are also Frenchman Olivier Boscagli, former Salzburg player Igor, Euran Cashin, and captain Lewis Dunk in the squad.
What are his chances?
"It's about getting to know everything, integrating into the team, and then I'll see where I stand," Svoboda says, not wanting to assess his chances yet.
But one thing is also clear for him: "Of course, you want playing time, I hope to get as many appearances as possible."
Coach Hürzeler states: "Of course, he will need time to adapt to the conditions, the league, the intensity. We will give him that time."
