Coventry Signs Amenda In £17m Deal From Frankfurt
Coventry City have completed a deal worth more than £17m for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda. Consequently, the Switzerland international becomes the newly-promoted club's third summer signing. The centre-back arrives for an initial £15.4m, plus a further £1.7m in add-ons. As a result, he has signed a four-year contract at the Championship-winning club.
Reports suggest Amenda was convinced by a compelling pitch from manager Frank Lampard and the club's recruitment team. Speaking after the move, the 22-year-old said he felt an immediate sense of trust following his first conversation with Lampard. He added that he liked the project and views the switch as a positive step in his career.
Furthermore, Amenda expressed excitement about meeting Coventry's fans and his new teammates. He also described his playing style, noting that he stays composed on the ball and can therefore contribute going forward, not just defensively.
The defender was part of Switzerland's squad at the World Cup, where the team reached the quarter-finals. However, he did not feature in any matches during the tournament.
Amenda's arrival follows the signings of winger Loum Tchaouna from Burnley and midfielder Frank Onyeka, whose move from Brentford was recently made permanent. Meanwhile, Coventry are still working to sign goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton, although talks have yet to produce an agreement. Chelsea's Filip Jorgensen is reportedly being considered as an alternative option.
In addition, Lampard renewed his contract with the club this summer. Coventry then began pre-season with a 3-2 defeat in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wimbledon. Next, they will face Northampton Town and Espanyol as they continue preparations for their first top-flight season in 25 years. For more on this transfer, see the original report on BBC Sport.
