Belgium U19 midfielder Mpoku rejoins Standard
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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R. Standard de Liège have signed Belgium Under-19 midfielder Paul-José Mpoku from Tottenham Hotspur FC ahead of their third qualifying round tie with FC Zürich.
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Belgian Under-19 international Paul-José Mpoku has rejoined R. Standard de Liège after leaving Tottenham Hotspur FC for an undisclosed fee.
Goalscoring midfielder Mpoku, who was a trainee with Les Rouches before moving to Tottenham in 2008, has signed a four-year contract. The Congolese-born player is currently representing Belgium at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Romania, having captained the team through qualifying.
Although Mpoku never played a first-team game for Spurs, he gained senior experience last season by appearing 27 times while on loan at Leyton Orient FC in the English third tier. Standard, Belgian First League runners-up last term, have also announced the transfer of Luigi Pieroni to French Ligue 2 side AC Arles-Avignon. The former Belgium striker, 30, spent a solitary campaign in Liege, making five league starts.
José Riga's team will enter the UEFA Champions League in the third qualifying round, where they take on FC Zürich.