Bundesliga experience will help me in the EPL –Balogun

Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has revealed that the experience of playing in the Bundesliga would help him adjust to the demands of playing in the English Premier League after penning a 2-year deal with Brighton on Tuesday.

The 29-year- old whose contract with German club, Mainz 05 expired this summer said it had always been his childhood wish to play in England.

“I think the Premier League is more competitive. The Bundesliga is probably the most comparable to the
Premier League. “Every footballer wants to compete and I think that’s the biggest challenge. It’s more physical, which I personally like. It’s a bit quicker as well and the individual quality in each team is on another
level in comparison to the Bundesliga,” he said.

“I always had a dream to play in the Premier League, and Brighton was one of the first teams to show an
interest in me. “I’ve been following English football as much as I can in Germany, and I saw how they got promoted from the Championship.

“I liked the way they played last season in the Premier League too and how they were able to maintain their status. It’s really impressive how they work, not just as individuals, but as a team too.

“I just met the manager and spoke to him on the phone once. He seems like a real gentleman, who is very
calm, polite and knows exactly what he wants to do.“You can see that in the way in which the team performed throughout the season,” he told the club’s website.

Meanwhile teammate and close friend, William Troost-Ekong has congratulated Balogun for the switch.

Balogun is expected to join his teammates in the Eagles camp very soon ahead of next Monday’s international friendly against Congo DR.