Winger joins Huddersfield Town for remainder of 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship season
- Anthony Knockaert signs for Huddersfield Town on loan
- Winger joins from Fulham for remainder of campaign
- Comments from Leigh Bromby and Mark Fotheringham
We are delighted to announce the signing of winger Anthony Knockaert, who has joined the Club on loan from Fulham for the remainder of the 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship season!
Having spent the start of the season with Greek Super League side Volos, the 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship Player of the Year is best known for his spells in English football with Leicester City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Fulham.
An attacking midfielder most often deployed from the right wing where he can cut in onto his dangerous left foot, he is known for his direct dribbling, eye for goal and tenacity in the final third. Knockaert will wear the number 50 shirt for the Terriers, joining in with First Team training at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex immediately.
Still just 31, his professional career began with French side Guingamp in 2010, catching the eye of Leicester City in 2012 after helping his side to gain promotion to Ligue 2. Capped by the French U21 side soon after signing with the Foxes, he was their Young Player of the Year in his first season at the King Power, going on to be a significant part of the 2013/14 promotion side.
Having opted to let his contract with Leicester City expire despite being offered the chance to extend, Knockaert then joined Belgian club Standard Liege in June 2015 where he scored seven times in 27 games across the Belgian top flight, domestic cup and Europa League.
Not away from England for long, he returned to the Sky Bet Championship in January 2016 with Brighton and Hove Albion and made an instant impact, again forming a major part of a side who secured promotion to the Premier League in his first full season. Named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Year in the 2016/17 promotion season following 15 goals and nine assists in 45 appearances, he then played 63 times in the Premier League for the Seagulls across two campaigns.
Signing for Fulham on a season-long loan in July 2019, he secured a third promotion to the Premier League in West London playing 45 times for the Cottagers, earning himself a permanent transfer. Now joining Town in his third loan move from Fulham, he has previously spent time with Nottingham Forest and most recently Volos.
Head of Football Operations Leigh Bromby commented:
“Anthony possesses the type of individual talent that is a rare find, so we’re absolutely delighted to have him with us for the remainder of the season. He has a proven track record at this level and a real hunger to contribute in England again, so that ticks a lot of boxes for us.
“This is the type of signing we hope can give the Club a real lift both on and off the field, with his high profile earned through countless memorable goals and performances that we hope will continue with our shirt on his back.
“He gives us something completely different in the final third whilst complimenting who we are and what we want to be as a team, so there is a real excitement to see how he can contribute between now and the end of the season.”
Head Coach Mark Fotheringham added:
“We’re delighted to have a player of Anthony’s calibre join the group, and I’m really looking forward to working with him between now and the end of the season. He has been a pleasure to deal with to date, and has shown a real desire to buy in to what we’re trying to achieve as a team which is a real positive.
“This is the type of signing that shows our ambition and commitment to getting out of our current predicament, with Anthony giving us a completely different point of attack in an area of the pitch that we’ve been badly hampered by injury.
“You cannot underestimate someone with the track record and experience Anthony has, and that will be invaluable in such an important stretch of the season. He’ll be getting involved with training straight away, and we’ll hope to have him up to speed and available as soon as possible.”
Welcome to the Terriers, Anthony!
Supporters can welcome him to the Club on Instagram, where you’ll find him on @knockaert_anthony.