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Dave Mc for West London Sport...Two Young Players Signing...

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:34 pm
by Steve Russell
Dave Mc for West London Sport...

QPR to snap up Esquerdinha and O’Brien
By David McIntyre 03/02/2025

'QPR will tonight complete the signing of young Brazilian left-back Esquerdinha after agreeing a
deal with Fluminense.

The 18-year-old is moving to west London for an initial £115,000 and will play for Rangers’
development side for the time being.

So too will 17-year-old midfielder Archie O’Brien, who is being signed from non-League Hertford Town.

They are among a number of young players the club have been looking to sign before the transfer
window closes.'

Re: Dave Mc for West London Sport...Two Young Players Signing...

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 10:23 pm
by Steve Russell
From the Club....

'QPR are pleased to confirm the signing of João Henrique - more commonly known as Esquerdinha - on a
permanent deal from Brazilian top-flight outfit Fluminense.

The left-back, 18, will initially link up with the club's Development Squad.

Esquerdinha is an exciting prospect who first signed for Fluminense aged nine. He made his senior debut at
just 16 and has also represented Brazil up to Under-17 level.

"I'd like to say thank you to QPR for bringing me here," he told us. “Now I want to play well, I want to do my job.
This is a very exciting move for me.

"The club sold the project to me and really believe in what I can do as a player. They want to improve me so
that one day, I can help the first team.

"I'm really excited to develop in my football now. I'm an offensive player who likes to keep possession, take shots
and also put crosses into the box. I want to show what I can do as quickly as possible in order to make it to the
first team."

Esquerdinha is also looking forward to embedding himself in English culture, adding: "It's great to be here, in
London. It's a little bit colder (than Brazil)!

"But I've watched lots of games in Brazil - for me, the Premier League is the top league in the world and the
Championship is a fast and physical league that I feel I'll be able to adapt to.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the QPR fans - I have seen a lot of posts on social media and I can see that they
are very passionate. One day I hope to play in front of them at Loftus Road."

QPR CEO Christian Nourry explained: "The club's new approach to being more aggressive with Development Squad
signings continues today with the arrival of Esquerdinha.

"He has demonstrated at youth level for Brazil, and in his limited minutes with Fluminense, that he has the potential
to develop into an interesting talent in the context of our inverted full-back profile."

This deal is subject to international clearance.'

Re: Dave Mc for West London Sport...Two Young Players Signing...

Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 10:31 pm
by Steve Russell
And this confirmation from the Club...

'ARCHIE O’Brien has joined QPR’s Development Squad.

The 17-year-old midfielder comes to the club from Hertford Town.

O’Brien, who joined following a short-term trial with the R’s, said: “I want to progress as much as possible
and succeed in whatever I am doing.

“I am just very excited.”

O’Brien has been with Hertford Town since the age of six and progressed to represent their first team over the
past 18 months.

He scored for the Blues in their 4-3 FA Youth Cup defeat to Arsenal in December.

Now O’Brien, who made a goal-scoring debut for England Schoolboys in January, is looking forward to continuing
his career with QPR.

“I have been here for a week, I have really enjoyed it and it is a really good club to be a part of,” he said.

CEO Christian Nourry said: “We are delighted to welcome Archie to Queen's Park Rangers Football Club.

“I want to personally thank Ben (Herd) and his team at Hertford for facilitating Archie’s trial experience, which led
to the club making the decision to offer him a new home.

“Archie is a ‘10’ with an eye for goal and an engine, and we are excited to further develop his quality at QPR."

This deal is subject to EFL approval.'