Leicester have signed striker Leonardo Ulloa from Brighton for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League newcomers have announced.
BREAKING: #lcfc are delighted to confirm the signing of Leonardo Ulloa on a four-year deal. #UlloaLCFC pic.twitter.com/nlaLUj1Ogk
- Leicester City (@OfficialFOXES) July 22, 2014
The Argentinian, who turns 28 this weekend, has penned a four-year contract at the King Power Stadium and could feature in Sunday's preseason friendly against Everton in Thailand.
Ulloa scored 25 goals in 52 appearances for Brighton since joining them from Spanish side Almeria in January 2013, including 16 goals last term to help the Seagulls reach the Sky Bet Championship playoffs, where they lost to Derby in the semifinals.
Brighton confirmed they had received a club-record fee for the striker, saying in a statement: "Leo Ulloa has completed his transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion to Leicester City, after the club reluctantly agreed to sell the striker for a club record transfer fee."#INSERT type:inline END#
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson said the former Castellon and San Lorenzo forward was someone the Championship winners had been looking at for quite a while.
"We identified Leo as a player that could help us move forward quite some time ago," Pearson told the club's website.
"He complements the forwards we already have very well and his attributes broaden the options available to us, which will be important this season. I'm delighted we've been able to add him to the squad.
"He has adapted extremely well to the English game in a relatively short period of time and I'm sure he will have a great deal to offer us in the Premier League."
Ulloa thanked the Brighton fans in a statement on their website, saying a move to a Premier League club was too tempting to turn down.
"I wasn't thinking about leaving Brighton," he said. "I've loved it here, my family have settled here and I was looking forward to another season -- but when the opportunity is there in front of you, it's very hard to say no.
"I would have loved to reach the Premier League with Brighton, and we came close twice in the two seasons after I joined the club -- but having that chance to play at the top level now is one I wanted to take.
"Brighton are an ambitious club, who are heading in the right direction, but this at this stage in my career I want the opportunity to play in the Premier League."#INSERT type:inline END#