Club news

Bissouma Eager To Prove Himself At Highest Level

By James Hilsum • 17 July 2018

New Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma explained that his desire to prove himself at the highest level convinced him to join the club.
 
The Mali international signed a five-year deal to become the club’s sixth first-team signing of the summer, and feels the Premier League is the ideal place to continue his career.
 
He said, “I chatted with quite a lot of people who advised me it’s a good league for my progression, and it’s good to join a club like Brighton who know what they want, an ambitious club.
 
“First of all I spoke to my agent, then I spoke to Bakary Sako who plays at Crystal Palace and Molla Wague, who plays for Watford. They both said a lot of good things about the Premier League.
 
“It’s the dream of every player to come and play in the Premier League. They said it’s different to Ligue 1 – but you see that on the TV.
 
“They said it’s quite physical, quite difficult but it’s the best league in the world, that says it all.
 
“To be a big player you have to prove yourself in the big leagues and that is what pushed me a bit to come here.
 
“I wanted to come and show what I can do in the Premier League and help the team move forward.”
 
The Malian arrives at Albion after a season of struggle with Lille, which saw the side narrowly avoid relegation from Ligue 1, and he was pleased to help the club maintain their top-flight status before moving on.
 
“It was really tough. I don’t wish any player the season we just went through because it was really difficult.
 
“The group was one of young players with joie de vivre but at the start we didn’t understand certain things.
 
“We had new players who joined us, and the adaptation process wasn’t really easy. That really weighed down on us.
 
“We managed to stay up – amid a lot of difficulty. It was really hard.
 
“But it’s done and today the club stay in Ligue 1 and I’m happy for them even though I’m no longer there.”