Brentford have completed the signing of Charlie Goode with Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough missing out on the Northampton Town captain, according to TEAMtalk.
After inspiring the Cobblers to promotion from League Two last season, this 6ft 4ins centre-half found himself at the heart of an almighty transfer tussle.
After weeks of speculation, a Brentford side who have built their recent success on astute, bargain signings appear to have pulled off another coup.
QPR and Middlesbrough were both in talks despite having bids rejected by Northampton but, as of Wednesday morning, Goode has put pen to paper with a Bees side who missed out on Premier League football thanks to a play-off final defeat to Fulham.
“I’d like to welcome Charlie to the club. Charlie is a player I really like; he is an aggressive defender and a big aerial threat in both boxes, which is a big thing for us,” Thomas Frank tells Brentford’s official website.
“He has good quality on the ball which we feel we can develop further within our style of play.”
The Londoners have paid £1.5 million for Goode’s signature; a fee that makes the former skipper the biggest export in Northampton’s history (Chronicle).
Sunderland were also interested, according to TEAMtalk, but the financial pressures facing lower league clubs meant that the Black Cats were always an outside bet.
With just 38 goals conceded in 46 games last season, Brentford could boast the second-best defensive record in the Championship last season and Goode faces a real battle if he is to oust Pontus Jansson or Ethan Pinnock from Frank’s starting XI.
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