Year Flashback
QPR sign Conor Washington from Peterborough to fill Charlie Austin gap
• The 23-year-old forward has scored 15 times this season
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: ‘Conor is a player I’ve admired for a while now’
Conor Washington
Conor Washington has scored 15 times for Peterborough this season and his new manager says: ‘His all-round game has always impressed me.’ Photograph: BPI/Rex/Shutterstock
Press Association
Tuesday 19 January 2016 10.56 EST
Last modified on Monday 10 October 2016 04.56 EDT
This article is 1 year old
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Queens Park Rangers have moved swiftly to fill the striking void left by Charlie Austin’s absence by signing Conor Washington from Peterborough. Austin joined Southampton over the weekend and, just three days later, Washington has arrived at Loftus Road after agreeing terms on a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Charlie Austin joins Southampton from QPR in £4m transfer
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The 23-year-old, who, like Austin, used to play non-league football, has scored 15 times for Peterborough this season and becomes Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s first signing for QPR.
Speaking to his club’s official website, Hasselbaink said: “Conor is a player I’ve admired for a while now, so I’m delighted he’s agreed to join us. I’ve seen first-hand what he’s capable of and his all-round game has always impressed me. Of course he’s still got a lot to learn – he’s by no means the finished article – but I am convinced he has what it takes to succeed at a higher level with us.
“He’s raw, he’s hungry, he’s determined. He’s quick and he’s versatile, which is important. He can play on his own up there, in a two, or on the shoulder of another striker. He’s got great pace to get in behind and that’s something we need when you look at our current attacking options.”
Washington is hopeful he can progress further in the Championship and noted the role Hasselbaink played in his decision.
He said: “As a striker, having someone like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink here as manager was a massive pull for me. He’s been there, seen it and done it at the very highest level and that can only benefit me as a player. I feel I’ve improved as a player over the last 18 months. My mentality has changed and I’m a better player for it. But I also feel there’s a lot more to come from me and I believe I can properly go on to fulfil my potential at QPR.”
Peterborough have earned a reputation for developing players from non-league football before selling them on to clubs higher up the chain and Washington follows the likes of George Boyd, Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron McLean in that respect.
The Peterborough chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, took to Twitter after the deal was announced to defend their policy: “My promise to all young talent who we spot/unearth is to always allow them (price permitting) to make a move when it suits all parties.”
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www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/19/qpr-sign-conor-washington-peterborough