Huddersfield signs Depoitre, 1st recruit since Premier League promotion

Gent's Laurent Depoitre controls a ball during the Champions League group H soccer match between Zenit and Gent, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (Dmitry Lovetsky/AP)

HUDDERSFIELD, England — Newly promoted Premier League team Huddersfield broke its transfer record to make its first signing of the off-season, bringing in Belgium striker Laurent Depoitre from Porto.

The northern club said Depoitre joined for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract, with the option of another 12 months. Local media reported the fee was 3.5 million pounds ($4.45 million), almost double the previous record.

Huddersfield manager David Wagner called Depoitre a hard-working striker with a good attitude, making him "fit the Terriers’ identity very well."

The 28-year-old Depoitre was not first choice last season for Portuguese team Porto, which he joined from Belgian side Gent in 2016.

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