Brugge bring Hoefkens back home

Belgium defender Carl Hoefkens has returned to his home country on a free transfer to UEFA Europa League hopefuls Club Brugge KV from English second-tier side West Bromwich Albion FC.

'Top team'
The 30-year-old confirmed his arrival on a two-year contract on Friday, having passed a medical, and said he was looking forward to playing for a "top team". Hoefkens, a Belgian title winner with K. Lierse SK in 1997, rejected a move to Brugge two years ago when opting to try his luck in England but explained: "I want to assure the Club Brugge fans that I only turned down the club last time because I had won two cups and a championship [in Belgium] and got into the national team, but I also wanted to get into the Premier League one day.

Misses second leg
"Now I'm fulfilling another dream as I've never played for a really top club before," added the former Lierse, KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen and Stoke City FC player. He will not be eligible for the second leg of Brugge's UEFA Europa League play-off against KKS Lech Poznán when the Belgian side will look to make amends for a 1-0 first-leg defeat on Thursday.