Coming through Brighton & Hove Albion’s academy, George Cox was sent out on loan to get some first-team action to help his development.
Initially sent to Northampton Town, the left-back came back and decided to try his luck abroad, once again on a temporary basis.
He ended up at Fortuna Sittard in Holland, where he impressed so much the club decided they wanted to keep him around permanently.
After some negotiating, a fee of £45k was arranged and Cox, at Brighton since 2009, waved goodbye to the English seaside to head over to the Eredivisie.
It’s not your typical move for an English footballer, but it’s one he’s glad he made.
Speaking to Elf Voetbal in Holland, he said: “I had never been to the Netherland (before his loan). I knew Fortuna Sittard through Todd Cantwell, who had been loaned to the club by Norwich City a season earlier and did well. And by Fernando Ricksen.
Following in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and most recently Jude Bellingham, Cox is one of an increasing larger number of English players willing to move outside of their comfort zone to progress as footballers.
He added: “You know? Many English players have an arrogant mindset. They only think about themselves and the football in their own country. That’s the best, according to them. They have to succeed there. Footballers, especially talents, did not dare to express themselves for decades, when that can be important for your development.
“Jadon Sancho was the first major talent to dare three years ago. And not only that, he showed at Borussia Dortmund that such a step can be successful. Jude Bellingham followed him last summer. Years ago, this would have been considered impossible”.
