O'GRADY SIGNS FOR ALBION

Chris O'Grady signs for the Albion.

Image by: Bennett Dean

PUBLISHED

18:12 18th July 2014

by Paul Camillin

Chris O'Grady has agreed to join Brighton & Hove Albion from Barnsley for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old forward has agreed a three-year deal with Albion, after finalising personal terms and passing a medical at the Amex earlier today.

He will link up with his new teammates for training on Monday and is set for his first appearance in an Albion shirt on Wednesday evening in the friendly at Crawley Town.

Manager Sami Hyypia said, "This is an area we want to strengthen and Chris is a good start. He is a strong, physical presence and gives us something different to the other strikers we already have here at the club.

"You need that option in the squad of a forward with power and strength, and Chris can give us that - as well as scoring goals. We still want some extra attacking additions, and in other areas of the team, but I'm pleased we have another one of our targets."

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Nottingham-born O'Grady began his career at Leicester City, breaking through under Micky Adams as a 17-year-old in 2003.

After a couple of loan spells, with Notts County and Rushden, and 24 senior appearances for the Foxes, O'Grady made the permanent switch to Rotherham United in 2007.

Spells with Oldham, Rochdale - where he hit 31 goals in 90 appearances-and Sheffield Wednesday followed, before a loan move to Barnsley at the end of the season before last.

His six goals in 16 games helped the Tykes secure Championship survival on the final day of the 2012/13 season.

Those efforts secured him a permanent move to Oakwell, and he was the star of a Barnsley team which eventually succumbed to relegation - scoring 15 goals in 40 games.