The former Whites’ star is continuing to impress after sealing a summer move back to the Premier League
Former Leeds United star Georginio Rutter has been given a brilliant new nickname by his Brighton teammate after scoring in the recent win over Tottenham Hotspur.
The Frenchman, who scored eight goals and notched 16 assists for Daniel Farke’s side last season in 51 games, sealed a £40million move to the Seagulls earlier this summer after impressing for the Whites in the second tier.
Leeds weren’t able to bring in a replacement in the number ten position during the summer, with Brenden Aaronson currently occupying that role. Since move back to the top flight, Rutter has scored two goals in six Premier League appearances for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
Rutter played a starring role in Brighton’s dramatic 3-2 win over Spurs, turning round a two goal deficit with the Frenchman scoring the equaliser just before the hour mark. Brennan Johnson and James Madison had given Spurs a 2-0 lead at the break, with Yankubah Minteh halving the deficit just after the restart.
Rutter restored parity just ten minutes later, before former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck completed the turnaround in the 66th minute. The former Leeds star set up the winner with a superb assist, holding off Destiny Udogie before showing his pace and power to set up Welbeck.
Speaking to BBC Sport at full-time Welbeck revealed he’d given Rutter a new nickname for Rutter following his impressive assist. He said: “I nicknamed him velcro as his touch sticks to him – it was a nice assist.”
Rutter is yet to play a full 90 minutes with four starts and two sub appearances, but has one assist and four key passes to his name in that time. The £40m star is showing he has what it takes to cut it in the Premier League having struggled during his first campaign in the top flight with Leeds.
Leading up to the game against Spurs, Hurzeler was full of praise for his summer signing. He said: “I think he also showed before that goal good performances.
“He’s a guy who doesn’t need goals to believe in himself and I think he has had a great impact, a great start to his new club. He’s a very humble person, he tries to work hard.
“His shape when he arrived was not the best but now, through the training sessions, he has got fitter and fitter and we are very happy to have him in our squad.”
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