‘Deal done’ – QPR confirm double transfer swoop in blow to Birmingham City and Derby County
QPR have confirmed the double transfer signing of Koko Saito and Karamoko Dembélé on Tuesday in what will be welcome news for supporters of the London outfit after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of West Brom over the opening weekend of the Championship season.
The R’s announced the arrival of the winger at Tuesday lunchtime as head coach Marti Cifuentes finally landed attacking reinforcements. QPR have been proactive in the summer window so far but lacked a replacement for Chris Willock and reinforcements up top.
He said: “I am really excited. I have heard amazing things about it here and I just can’t wait to get started, to be honest.
“This is a great platform for me to progress in my career. I spoke to Martí (Cifuentes) and I spoke to Christian (Nourry) and I really felt the ‘want’, which I think is important. The conversations I had with them were good and from there, my decision was made.”
The 23-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan at Sparta Rotterdam and was part of the Japan squad that competed at the Paris Olympics this summer. He told the club: “I am really looking forward to playing for a big club like QPR, and I want to contribute to the team by providing results, goals and assists. Thinking about where I want to be and what I want to achieve, it will be a great step to play for QPR.
“Dribbling is one of my strengths. But also creating chances and running behind the defenders that leads into goals and assists are also the strengths I have.”
Saito is joined by fellow new arrival Dembélé, who has signed on an initial season-long loan deal. That acquisition represents a coup for QPR with the 21-year-old said to be a target for Birmingham City and Derby County this summer, according to transfer specialist Alan Nixon.
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