Towards the end of the January window, Jakub Moder left Brirghton & Hove Albion for Feyenoord in a permanent transfer.
The Polish midfielder had been with the Seagulls since 2020, and moving to the Eredivisie at the age of 25 probably won’t have been his ultimate aim.
However, fate hadn’t treated the Moder the way he hoped. A lengthy injury at Brighton not only took a chunk out of his career and saw a long period of rehabilitation, but he believes it also saw the Premier League club improve and move on without him.
The first half of this season saw just four Premier League appearances for Moder, totalling just nine minutes for Brighton in the league.
Whilst he did pick up minutes elsewhere, it was clear if he wanted regular football then a winter move need to be on the agenda.
That move – to Feyenoord – happened, and he’s since been a regular in the Eredivisie and even played the full 90 minutes in four Champions League matches.
Voetbal International have spoken to Moder and he was open about why he had to leave Brighton: “I was unable to play football for nineteen months due to a serious cruciate ligament injury and then it is difficult to get playing time at a club, Brighton & Hove Albion, that has developed enormously during my absence.
“And I had to go and play. There were a number of other options, also in England and in other countries, but Feyenoord sounded… as if it was meant to be. I wanted to go to a top competition, or to a big club where they play in Europe every year and compete for the championship. Of course I knew Feyenoord, because my friend Sebastian Szymanski played there for a year. I called him straight away. To be completely sure I asked Mats (Wieffer) and Yankuba (Minteh), my teammates at Brighton. They told me what I knew deep down; Feyenoord would be the perfect move.”
Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie has praised Moder’s impact since his arrival from Brighton. Asked if he was surprised, the midfielder said: “Not really for me. I didn’t play that much at my previous club Brighton & Hove Albion, but I was fit. Then it’s a matter of getting into rhythm. Rhythm is the magic word for every player. Feyenoord had to deal with a number of injuries, so I had to get started right away. First Ajax away, then to PSV for the cup. Not my best matches, but they were valuable to me.
“With two top games in your legs, things go quickly, because then the confidence of the coach and your fellow players comes into play. Now I dare say that I am approaching my best level. It can and must be better, but I am on my way.”
