Who is Alireza Jahanbakhsh?
Brighton broke their transfer record to sign Iranian international Alireza Jahanbakhsh for £17m in July, but the news came as a surprise with people knowing very little about the player.
Brighton broke their transfer record to sign Iranian international Alireza Jahanbakhsh for £17m in July, but the news came as a surprise with people knowing very little about the player.
Jahanbakhsh arrives at the Amex from AZ Alkmaar, where the winger set the Eredivisie alight with 21 goals and 12 assists in 33 games last season.
The 25-year-old has nearly 50 caps with his national team, where he has become known as the 'Iranian Messi'.
The similarities may be in short supply, though, like Messi, Jahanbakhsh has always had an eye for goal. In his second year at NEC Nijmegen, he scored 12 goals and assisted an outstanding 18, which led to him becoming Eerste Divisie's 2014 Player of the Year.
Jahanbakhsh is also known for his versatility, being capable of playing on either flank or as a central playmaker, according to new boss Chris Hughton.
Brighton fans will have a lot to be impressed with if he can keep up his form from the Netherlands.
The Iranian is set to make his full Brighton debut on Sunday against Manchester United.