Joel Ekstrand has signed for Bristol City.
Watford’s Joel Ekstrand in action
Swedish defender Joel Ekstrand has clinched a move to Bristol City, The BBC report.
Ekstrand, 27, was a free agent after being released by Watford in the summer and came close previously to signing with Leeds United.
Birmingham’s Clayton Donaldson (L) in action with Watford’s Joel Ekstrand
Talks broke down after Leeds had doubts over his fitness, although Ekstrand insisted he was the one to end negotiations.
He told: Helsingborg Dagblad: “I was offered a contract after the medical examination. Afterwards the negotiations were tough. The survey found that my knees looked different, which is obvious when one knee has been operated on for a cruciate ligament injury. They tried to use it against me.”
Ekstrand suffered a serious knee injury in March 2015 but believes he is fully fit again and simply needs to play.
Watford’s Joel Ekstrand (L) in action with Bolton’s Craig Davies
If Bristol City can get him back to his best then they will have bagged a bargain.
Ekstrand has been capped at international level by Sweden, and has experience playing Championship football.
Leeds signed fellow Swede, Pontus Jansson, but later released Sol Bamba, and so could potentially have done with the pair of them.
Bristol City are sixth in the Championship table compared to Leeds United’s 21st, and Ekstrand will surely hope his side can go onto clinch a play-off spot, and that he can play a big part and cause those who missed out on him to regret doing so.
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