Who is Jakub Moder? Things to know about the Polish midfielder
By Harry Symeou
Brighton midfielder Jakub Moder may have only featured a handful of times in the Premier League but he's announced himself on the international stage, scoring for Poland against England at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier.
Graham Potter's side paid just shy of £10m to capture him from Lech Poznan but loaned him straight back to the Polish club. However, he has since been recalled and has featured more regularly in Brighton's team.
Here are a few things to know about the midfielder.
1. Came through the Lech Poznan academy alongside Krystian Bielik
Moder is a product of the Lech Poznan academy and their class of 1999.
He is a former teammate of Derby's Krystian Bielik and has been described by Rafal Ulatowski, the director of coaching, as a similar player to the former Arsenal man.
While the pair have many similarities, Ulatowski described the Brighton man as having 'more offensive skills and a more offensive mind,' making him a more rounded midfielder than his compatriot in theory.
2. Has been compared to Sergio Busquets
As reported by The Athletic, the Polish international has been compared to Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets by one of his former coaches.
It seems the Premier League midfielder is a little more versatile than the Spanish international, who often screens Barça's back four and whips out a pirouette or two for good measure.
Comparisons to one of European football's elite are obviously a little premature at this stage in Moder's career, but young players don't get attention unless they're billed as the next Messi or Ronaldo.
3. Borussia Dortmund were interested
At the time Brighton signed Moder, it is alleged Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund were also interested in his services.
The Seagulls had been monitoring Moder closely for the best part of ten months prior to making their move.
It's unclear how far Dortmund took their reported interest but Moder has been quoted as saying he's always dreamed of playing in the English top flight.
4. Scored his first competitive international goal against England
Moder, also known as 'Kuba', had already scored for Poland against Ukraine in a friendly but his first competitive goal on the international stage came against Gareth Southgate's England at Wembley.
The Brighton man equalised for the visitors just prior to the hour mark but Harry Maguire restored England's lead with five minutes remaining to secure all three points for the hosts.
5. Started playing senior football at just 17
At just 17, Moder was already playing senior football for Lech Poznan's second team.
The youngster began to build quite the reputation for himself, turning in some impressive displays and contributing significantly to the team earning promotion from the equivalent of the English League Two in Poland.
6. Loves a shot from distance
The midfielder scored nine goals in 56 appearances for the Lech Poznan first team and became notorious for shooting accurately from distance.
Often arriving at the edge of the penalty area late, you'd back Moder to rifle a shot into the top corner.