Bafana Bafana midfielder Luke Le Roux has made the move to England, joining Portsmouth FC in the English Championship from the Swedish top-flight club IFK Värnamo.
Le Roux had been a regular at Swedish club IFK Värnamo. He now joins Championship side Pompey on a three-year deal. The 25-year-old has been in Europe for the past five years, having left SuperSport United for Varbergs BoIS in 2020.
He’ll now be playing in the same league as fellow South African Tylon Smith, who was unveiled by rivals Queens Park Rangers most recently.
In a statement on Friday, Portsmouth FC stated that they’ve secured the services of Le Roux for an undisclosed fee. His move to the club is subject to international clearance and a work permit.
Blues manager John Mousinho stated that the South African international’s impressive form over the past few seasons has not only caught Portsmouth’s attention but also attracted interest from several other clubs.
MOUSINHO HAILS LE ROUX AS THE MIDFIELD “DICTATOR” POMPEY NEEDED
“So we’re delighted that he’s agreed to join Pompey and we’ve brought in an experienced international player,” said Mousinho. “Luke’s form over the past couple of seasons means he not only found himself on our radar, but also that of a number of other clubs.”
He described the former Stellenbosch FC star as “a holding midfielder who likes to sit in and dictate the play.” In addition, Mousinho also admires that Le Roux is “physically strong and can also handle the ball.”
“It was a position we were looking to fill and is just what we needed. I’m excited to see him in action in a Pompey shirt,” he added.
Le Roux progressed through the ranks at SuperSport United in his homeland before transferring to Sweden to play for Varbergs. He then spent a season in the Dutch top flight with Volendam and joined IFK Värnamo last summer. Le Roux played a key role in helping the team secure a playoff victory to stay in Sweden’s top division, making a total of 32 appearances for the club.
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