Sunderland sign ex-Tottenham player Alex Pritchard - but who is the former £11m-rated attacking midfielder?

Sunderland have concluded a deal for Alex Pritchard – but who is the attacking midfielder?
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The club have announced contract extensions for Aiden McGeady and Luke O’Nien as well as several signings for their youth team.

And now the Wearsiders have added Pritchard to their ranks with Sunderland’s transfer team eyeing further additions before the League One season starts.

But what do we know about the player? Here, we take a look:

Alex Pritchard of Huddersfield Town reacts during the pre-season friendly between Rochdale and Huddersfield Town at Crown Oil Arena.Alex Pritchard of Huddersfield Town reacts during the pre-season friendly between Rochdale and Huddersfield Town at Crown Oil Arena.
Alex Pritchard of Huddersfield Town reacts during the pre-season friendly between Rochdale and Huddersfield Town at Crown Oil Arena.

Alex Pritchard – fact file

Position: Attacking midfielder

Age: 28-years-old

Height: 5 ft 7 in

Place of birth: Orsett, England

So what is the story with Alex Pritchard and Sunderland?

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The attacking midfielder has made the move to the Stadium of Light having been linked with the club by several outlets following his release from Huddersfield Town at the end of last season.

Championship outfits Birmingham City, QPR and Derby County were also credited with an interest in the player.

But Sunderland have won the race Pritchard this summer, with the club announcing the deal on social media.

What experience does Alex Pritchard have?

The 28-year-old began his footballing career at West Ham United as a youth teamer but was quickly snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur.

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But during four seasons in London, Pritchard made just two appearances for Spurs, spending most of his time out on loan at Peterborough United, Swindon Town, West Brom and Brentford.

Indeed, during a season with The Bees, Pritchard netted 12 goals in the Championship before eventually leaving Spurs permanently to join Norwich City.

Pritchard made 38 Championship appearances over two seasons at Carrow Road before being poached by Huddersfield Town, who were then in the Premier League.

Pritchard went on to make 44 appearances for The Terriers in the top-flight before the Yorkshire club suffered relegation to the second tier in 2019.

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After a season playing in the Championship, Pritchard was released by Huddersfield Town.

What did the Huddersfield Town hierarchy have to say about Alex Pritchard?

Former Huddersfield Town owner Dean Hoyle has stated that he overpaid for Pritchard when the Terriers signed him from Norwich City back in 2018.

"In that season we had also brought Alex Pritchard for £11million, which we couldn't really afford,” Hoyle explained.

"I think we'd spent about £60million, and when I say spent, it obviously goes out over two or three years.

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"David Wagner wanted a number 10 and he was obsessed by Alex Pritchard. He said 'that's the man'. Two things, first, I had to go back to Stuart Webber to negotiate. That wasn't easy but all good fun.

"Secondly, personally, we overpaid. We overpaid for the football club. We overpaid for the player and we went over budget by £11million but we survived. I don't think Alex made us survive, but I really wanted to support David," Hoyle told the Looks Good on Paper podcast.

He concluded: "David was a rock star. He got us to the Premier League, the promised land and we were in touching distance of staying up at Christmas. I backed him with everything I had."

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