With Hull City announcing the signing of Jon Toral from Arsenal ahead of the tie against Bolton Wanderers, both Toral and head coach Leonid Slutsky have spoken of their delight at getting the deal done.
Having come in from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, the 22 year old has signed a three year deal and Hull have an option to extend that for a further 12 months.
Having taken the No 11 shirt for the season, he made his debut as a late 80th minute substitute against Bolton, and speaking to the Official Site he felt this was a key move as he looks to really get his career going.
‘This is a key moment for me and it just felt like the time was right to make that permanent move. I`ve had a few loan moves over the last couple of years but now I want to settle somewhere and be there for the long term, and I`m really looking forward to getting started here now. I`m sure coming here will improve me as a player, especially with the Head Coach and staff that are here, and of course I want to help this club to get back to the Premier League. This is a massive move for me, certainly the biggest in my career so far, and one that can kick-start things for me. I`ve enjoyed playing in the Championship before and I hope to use that experience here. It`s a tough league where everybody can beat everybody. Home games are very important in this league, especially if you want to be at the top end, and we need to make sure we are strong on our own ground.’
Having faced off against Hull the last time he was in the Championship during a loan spell with Birmingham City, he went on to say.
‘I do remember that goal and I think we won 1-0 on the night, although Hull did go on to win promotion. I am the type of attacking midfielder that likes to get into the box when I can to try and help the team with goals. But mainly it`s about trying to create chances and helping the team in whichever way the manager wants me to.’
Leonid Slutsky was also delighted to add him to the squad, and he felt he would give us that touch of creativity on the pitch.
‘Jon has had some loan moves, but it is always better for a player to be living in a permanent house rather than a rented one and he now has a permanent stay here. He now has to find a home in our team and this is a serious motivation for his development.’
He went on to say.
‘Jon is a number ten type of player who has a great final ball and is good when it comes to assists. He is a good footballer who can help with a quick transition between defence and attack. He is a player that has come here because he wants to prove himself, just like Kevin Stewart and Stephen Kingsley. Although he trained in pre-season, he hasn’t played many games and so if he is involved on Friday night it is likely to be from the bench.’
