QPR beat Sunderland to 'exciting' Chelsea transfer in 19th hour on Deadline Day
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QPR have beaten Sunderland to the signing of Chelsea midfielder Harvey Vale in a late coup on Deadline Day with the announcement from the club coming as the transfer window slammed shut for EFL clubs.
It had emerged last week that the R’s were the frontrunners to sign the 21-year-old with the Black Cats also having been credited with transfer interest in the star. However, as time went by, questions started to be raised over that move with the Premier League side tied up in action against West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
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Hide AdConfirming the arrival of Vale at Loftus Road, QPR unveiled the player who has signed a long-term contract with the side. Vale is currently injured and not available to play this season, so is an arrival for the future.
Chelsea man ‘buzzing’ to complete QPR transfer
He told the club website: “I am buzzing. As soon as I heard QPR were interested I wanted to get to know more. I am really excited and so happy it got over the line.
“I feel like I need a home, I need a place to settle, I need a place to grow. That’s why I thought it was the right time. If I kept going on loan, you get into that cycle and you don’t really settle and find a home. Now hopefully here I have found that home.
“That is what kick-started this January window. Playing in front of fans every week, making that connection, fighting for three points, getting yourself up the league, it is so good and I am so excited to get going.”
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Hide AdVale can play across the midfield but is most naturally a number 10. QPR CEO Christian Nourry said: "We are delighted that Harvey has chosen to make the next step in his career at Queens Park Rangers. His engine, high technical quality and vision, as well as his leadership qualities, make him an exciting signing for the football club."
QPR beat West Brom and Oxford United to transfer
QPR continue to invest young with Yang Min-Hyeok and Ronnie Edwards arriving on loan this month, as well as two Deadline Day signings for the Development Squad. Explaining why he wanted to come to Loftus Road, Vale said: “It’s the footballing project, the people that work within that, everybody from top to bottom of the club. You have to make sure it aligns with me and what I wanted, and I felt it did that.
“On a personal level, I need to get playing games, that’s the goal for me – and to prove to the fans why the club trusted to bring me here.”
Oxford United and West Brom had also been linked with a move for the player recently. The former England under-20 international impressed in League One with Bristol Rovers last season and has made two Europa Conference League appearances this season. Vale picked up minutes against FC Astana and Shamrock Rovers for Chelsea.
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Hide AdPreviously a Chelsea Academy Player of the Year, Vale is best known as a left-sided winger but was used as a wing-back while at Bristol Rovers. He scored three goals and picked up six assists in 47 matches from that position during that spell.
Vale was the subject of a bid from Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq in September but rejected the option to move to the Middle East in favour of continuing his career in Europe.
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