Lynch joins QPR to Wagner’s dismay

By Peter Westwood

QPR have completed the signing of defender Joel Lynch from Huddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee.

Lynch, 28 has agreed a three-year deal at Loftus Road, tying him to the club until the summer of 2019.

QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has welcomed the arrival of Lynch in which he said: “I’m delighted Joel has joined us and can’t wait to welcome him into the squad.

“He’s a high calibre centre-half at this level and offers us something a little bit different to the other central defenders we’ve already got.

“He’s left-sided, which will give us better balance, and has that ability to bring the ball out from the back and play, which will hopefully allow us to control the game from a deeper position.”

Speaking to QPR’s website Lynch expressed his delight at sealing a move to Loftus Road.

“I’m delighted to be here,” he said, “this is a massive opportunity for me to improve as a player.

“I feel I’m in my prime now and I’m ready to kick on and become an established player at this club.

“I just want to get going now and meet the lads, repay the faith of the manager and owners who have brought me here, and show what I can do for QPR.”

Lynch, 28, turned pro by graduating from Brighton and Hove Albion‘s academy before he moved to Nottingham Forest for £200,000.

In 2012 he signed for the Terriers, who he made over 120 appearances for. Town boss David Wagner did not withold the truth upon commenting on the player’s exit.

“I would like to say good luck to Joel as he leaves to join Queens Park Rangers today,” said Wagner. “He has been at the club over four years and was an important part of my team over the past seven months.

“Since the end of last season, Joel’s representatives have been pushing hard for this transfer to happen. As I have said throughout the summer window, we were under no pressure to sell any player, but we had to consider that Joel’s contract was finishing in June 2017.