Brighton delighted with Wayne Bridge
MANCHESTER, England ● Manchester City has sent former England left back Wayne Bridge to second-tier League Championship club Brighton on a season-long loan.
Since losing his place in the City team under manager Roberto Mancini, the 31-year-old Bridge has spent spells on loan at West Ham and Sunderland.
Brighton finished 10th in the Championship last season, nine points off a playoff place.
Bridge is behind fellow left backs Gael Clichy and Aleksandr Kolarov in the pecking order at the English champions.
Gus Poyet, the Albion boss, is delighted to have agreed a deal with Bridge and City.
He told thte Brighton website, seagulls.co.uk, “It’s difficult to say how I happy I am because it’s not easy to get top-class players. I’m absolutely delighted to have Wayne with us. He’s been one of the top three left-backs in this country for many years.
“There were a lot of things that had to come together to make it happen. Firstly, David Platt has been great at Manchester City and then Wayne and his agent have helped a lot too.
“It was not an easy one to secure, but this is what we want at this club. He’s a quality player with lots of international experience.
“Wayne has played at the top of English football for a long time. We have all got to learn from him and I’m sure that he will have a very good season with us. It’s going to be very nice to sit back and watch him on the pitch.”
Bridge brings a wealth of top-flight and Champions League experience to the Seagulls squad after racking up over 400 senior appearances throughout his career to date – as well as 36 caps for England.
He graduated through Southampton’s academy and became a regular in their first team before Chelsea signed him for a fee in the region of £7m during the summer of 2003.
During six years at Stamford Bridge, he won the Premier League in 2004/05 and a cup double in 2007 as the Blues clinched the FA and League cups.
He joined Manchester City for £12m in January 2009 and has made 58 appearances for City. During his time at the Etihad Stadium has also had loan spells at West ham United and Sunderland before signing at the Amex this afternoon.
