Pascal Struijk says Fabian Hürzeler helped persuade him to join Albion after leaving Leeds United this summer, with the defender pointing to the club's project, recent style of play and Conference League football as key reasons for the move.
Struijk spent eight years in Yorkshire with Leeds United before switching to Albion, and he said the chance to be part of a team pushing in Europe was a major part of the appeal. As he put it, the project, the way Albion have been playing over recent years and the development of players all played into his decision.
The defender also made clear that the opportunity to compete in the Conference League mattered. For a player looking for the best stage possible, that part of Albion's pitch carried real weight. Struijk said he was happy to join and hopes the move helps him progress and become a better player.
How much did Georginio Rutter matter?
Georginio Rutter, who made the same move almost two years ago, was part of the picture too, but Struijk downplayed how much influence he had on the final call. Struijk said Rutter sent him a couple of messages, and that it was nice to have someone he knew from his Leeds United days at the club, but he added that Rutter did not play much of a part in the real decision-making.
That fits with the broader theme of Struijk's comments. The move was not about one person or one conversation. It was about Albion's direction, the platform on offer and the chance to compete for something meaningful in Europe.
Albion's message to new arrivals
Struijk was among the spectators in Vienna for Albion's 120-minute friendly against Strasbourg, another small sign of how quickly he has settled into his new surroundings. He described Conference League football as a great competition and said English teams have done well in it over the last few years.
There is no sense of lowered expectations from Struijk, either. He said there is always pressure in football, and that Albion are not expected to win anything, although the players expect that of themselves. For him, the task now is to build confidence through the way the team plays and carry that forward through the tournament.
It is a useful window into how Albion are selling themselves: not just as a club with ambition, but as one that believes its project, coaching and European place can attract players looking for the next step.
