AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has finally got his man.
The chase is over. 🇨🇴#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/5WgTSOXR6H
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 7, 2018
Colombia International midfielder Jefferson Lerma is finally a Cherries player.
The chase for the 23-year-old at times appeared to have been rather protracted.
Lerma had been linked with clubs in Spain and Germany towards the end of last season, but it was the Cherries interest over the summer that garnered the most coverage in the media.
The trail went cold during the World Cup, where Lerma (pictured above), featured in the World Cup knock out stages for Colombia, eventually going out on penalties to England.
After leaving Russia for his native Colombia, he had then reportedly handed in a transfer request and gone AWOL prior to AFC Bournemouth agreeing on a fee with Valencia-based side Levante.
But that is all now done and dusted.
The news you’ve been waiting for…
Sky Sources: #afcb complete the signing of Jefferson Lerma.
It’s a 5-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2023.
Fee: £25 million.
Still waiting on official confirmation from the club.
…and relax.
— Mark McAdam (@markmcadamtv) August 7, 2018
Lerma has now signed a five-year contract at Dean Court, subject to international clearance.
Whilst AFC Bournemouth have not confirmed the price tag as the reported £25 million, the Cherries announcement did confirm that the deal is “a club record fee”, beating the reported £20 million spent on signing Nathan Ake from Chelsea.
Welcome to #afcb, @jeffersonlerma! 🍒 pic.twitter.com/AnWv4A2pf3
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) August 7, 2018
Lerma told afcb.co.uk…
“I’m so happy to be an AFC Bournemouth player,”
“The transfer has been very long because it took a while for the clubs to reach an agreement, but the most important thing is that I am here now and everyone got what they wanted in the end.
“I have always loved the Premier League style of football and am very happy to have this opportunity.
“I am looking forward to success and doing important things for this club.”
Your say…
ChiknJorge wrote…
Every signing is something of a gamble. We’ve seen plenty of players in the past that didn’t fit. The risk here is heightened by the fee but I don’t see any other reason to think he won’t be a success. – Join the conversation, click here.
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