QPR midfielder quits Loftus Road two months after Preston North End 'screamer'

QPR midfielder Lucas Andersen will quit the club this summer on the expiry of his contract, bringing an end to his 16 month stay at Loftus Road.

The 30-year-old has been a prominent figure under Marti Cifuentes, signed by the Catalan head coach in February 2024. Andersen went on to make 51 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and registering four assists.

Cifuentes, who worked with the midfielder when in Denmark, was placed on gardening leave ahead of the final game of the season and is not expected to return to his post at Loftus Road. Now, it has been confirmed that Andersen will not return either.

Lucas Andersen to depart QPR

A club statement on Monday read: “Lucas Andersen will leave QPR following the expiry of his contract at the end of this month. The attacking midfielder joined Rangers in February 2024 from AaB Aalborg and had a key role to play as the club maintained its Championship status in 2023/24.

“Andersen made 51 appearances for QPR in all competitions, scoring three goals – including the second in our 4-0 home victory against Leeds in April 2024 and a stunning injury-time winner at Preston two months ago.”

That goal against Preston North End was likely Andersen’s most memorable moment for QPR. That effort was labelled a ‘screamer’ by Sky Sports and snatched an injury time win for the R’s at Deepdale.

Andersen sends parting message to R’s supporters

On leaving the club, Andersen said: "QPR has been one of the best places I've been as a whole - my team-mates, fans, stadiums and the football heritage is unmatched. It's always been my goal to not only be remembered as the footballer but also a good human being. My family have loved every second of living in London. And we are definitely coming back."

QPR are yet to make serious moves in the transfer window with questions still remaining over who will lead the team next season, but do have former Chelsea man Harvey Vale still to make his debut since signing in January. The midfielder has been sidelined with a serious injury.

Andersen was a Cifuentes favourite at QPR and, speaking last year, praised the way the head coach had settled in at the club. He told Football League World: “It’s very difficult to compare because clubs are different, squads are different, pressure is different.

“I think what he does very well is take everything into consideration on how to rebuild or reshape a group of players, a team, and taking their best abilities into consideration. Of course, he wants to have the ball, he wants us to be creative, to provide a lot of chances, and be very well structured in the defensive play. I think you can see that if you watch the games, we do a lot of different things.

“Now, the most important is to build confidence and get the results because we don’t want to be in a situation where we’re playing well but ending up with zero points. The whole situation, taken into consideration, there are more factors than just playing a certain style or a certain way so I think he knows that very well as a coach, with his experience of being through different facets of the game."

In other news, Crystal Palace eye Chelsea transfer in blow to QPR and Championship rivals.