FCK sign De Ridder and Nilsson
FC Copenhagen yesterday agreed two new signings, in the form of Belgian playmaker Steve De Ridder and central defender Per Nilsson.
De Ridder arrives from Utrecht after a season with the Eredivisie club and has signed a four-year contract at PARKEN. At 27, his experience was one of the main reasons manager Ståle Solbakken moved for him:
- Steve De Ridder is a player we have been following for a long time. He has had a fantastic season in Utrecht and has the mentality we would like to have here at the club, with a healthy form of self-confidence and drive to win. Steve is a type of player we do not currently have in our squad and we hope and expect him to contribute from day one on and off the field at FC Copenhagen.
De Ridder himself spoke to FCK.dk about his switch to the Danish capital:
- I’m very happy to be here in Copenhagen. I’ve heard good things about the city, the club and its history. I have big ambitions to help the club reclaim the title and I’d love to contribute all that I can. I hope and do not expect that it will take long before I can be crucial to the team. I'm glad for the opportunity I have been given at FC Copenhagen, which, for the first time in my career, means I can play at a top club, and I am very pleased.
Per ‘Pelle’ Nilsson, meanwhile, has signed a three-year deal with the club. The 31-year-old arrives in Copenhagen after six years in the Bundesliga with FC Nurnberg and before that Hoffenheim.
The Swede has 16 international caps and Solbakken believes his experience in top-level football can greatly improve the FCK back line:
- We have got a player with solid experience from one of the world's strongest leagues. In addition, Pelle is a natural authority and this has made him a candidate for the captaincy at two Bundesliga clubs. We know he still has great hunger and ambition, as he has lately proved with performances for his national team.
Nilsson spoke to FCK.dk after signing his deal to discuss moving back to Scandinavia:
- I am very pleased to come to FC Copenhagen. On the sports side, I feel this is a great opportunity to play for titles and a challenge to try to get into the Champions League as often as possible. The club’s ambitions on the pitch are in line with my own as a football player. At the same time I have heard only positive things about the club and the city from former and current national team-mates. So I'm looking forward to the challenge and will do my best to make it a successful time for the club and the city.
Nilsson is currently with his Sweden international team-mates but will join the Lions ranks in Copenhagen on 26 June. He will wear the No. 4 shirt vacated by Kris Stadsgaard, who will wear No. 13.
Steve De Ridder
Nationality: Belgian
Born: February 25, 1987
Position: Attacker
Height: 177 cm
Previous clubs: Ghent, Hamme, De Graafschap, Southampton, Bolton Wanderers, Utrecht.
Per Nilsson
Nationality: Swedish (16 caps)
Born: September 15, 1982
Position: Defender
Height: 190 cm
Previous clubs: IFK Timrå , GIF Sundsvall, AIK Stockholm, Odd Grenland , 1899 Hoffenheim, 1 FC Nuremberg.
by Joe Short
