Peterborough United have delivered Posh fans an early Christmas present…the permanent signing of Dwight Gayle!
Chairman Darragh MacAnthony tweeted yesterday [Sunday 23rd December] that he was to announce an early Christmas present today and it is the news all Posh fans were hoping for…Dwight Gayle.
The in-form striker has scored five goals in six matches for Posh since signing on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge. The 22-year-old will sign a four and a half year contract on 2nd January, a day after the transfer window opens again.
The fee is in the region of £470,000-£500,000 which could rise to £700,000 to £750,000 depending on which club you listen to. The fee breaks the transfer record of Dagenham. The agreement also includes a sizeable sell-on fee should Gayle be subsequently sold.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: ‘Dwight has done very well and him and Lee Tomlin have formed an effective partnership, they have caused a lot of problems and long may that continue. I am pleased that everything has been sorted out and credit to the chairman for providing the finance for the deal’.
The deal is an improved one on the earlier agreement which would’ve seen Gayle return to the Daggers on loan for the rest of the season.
Daggers boss and former Posh boss John Still said: ‘Dwight wasn`t with us for long but he showed a lot of ability and another opportunity has come along for him. The Club had accepted an offer that would see the player come back in January but that offer has been improved and the club felt that financially it was the right thing to do. I believe Dwight has a terrific future and as sad as I am to see him go, I wish him the best of luck’.
Gayle added: ‘I am delighted that everything is sorted, I have really enjoyed my time at the club during my loan spell and I am very pleased to be staying. I want to improve and I believe I can do that here.’
Chairman Darragh MacAnthony said: ‘Merry Christmas … Father Christmas does exist!’
UP THE POSH
