St. Pauli sign Eric Smith on loan
Thursday, 07. January 2021, 16:30 Uhr
FC St. Pauli have bolstered their engine room with the addition of Swedish holding midfielder Eric Smith on loan until the end of the season. Director of sport Andreas Bornemann has agreed a deal with officials of Belgian top-division club KAA Gent that includes an option to buy the player.
Smith joined KAA Gent in the 2018/19 season and made two appearances before joining Norwegian side Tromsø IL on loan in early 2019, for whom he made 11 appearances and made two goals. The 23-year-old defensive specialist was then loaned to IFK Norrköping from May to December 2020. He made 27 appearances for the side that finished sixth in the Swedish top flight last season, contributing one assist.
Reaction to the deal
Director of sport Andreas Bornemann: “We were looking for a rugged defensive midfielder and have now found one. We’re convinced Eric can become an important part of the team over the next few weeks.”
Head coach Timo Schultz: “I’m delighted that in Eric we’ve been able to add an element to the squad that had been missing. With his physical presence and crisp passing, he’ll quickly give us more stability.”
Eric Smith: “I’ve heard about the fans and the fantastic atmosphere at St. Pauli and can’t wait to experience it myself soon hopefully, so I didn’t need much time to think it over. I’m looking forward to the new challenge and will do my utmost to utilise my strengths for the benefit of the team.”
Photos: Witters
