Hull City complete transfer deal for Uruguay's Hernandez from Palermo

Published Sep. 1, 2014 12:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

Hull City have completed the signing of Uruguay striker Abel Hernandez from Palermo for a club record fee reportedly in the region of £9.5 million.

The 24-year-old has signed a three-year deal at the KC Stadium with the option of the club extending the contract for a further year. Hernandez, who was part of Uruguay's World Cup squad this summer, scored 14 goals last season as Palermo won Italy's Serie B title.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce said: "Abel is a fantastic signing and highlights just how far the club has come in such a short space of time. He is an exciting talent and like myself, I'm sure the supporters can't wait to see him in action."

Hernandez's arrival follows the departure of George Boyd to Burnley on a three-year deal. On Sunday, Bruce revealed another deal for had been done for an incoming player, with Republic of Ireland youth defender Brian Lenihan joining from Cork City.

Hull's Cork-born midfielder David Meyler is part of the senior Republic squad, and asked about Lenihan on Monday, he said: "He's a fantastic young talent and hopefully he'll kick on and do really well.

"I watched him a couple of times when I went home during the summer and saw Cork City - I think he's a terrific player. I met him the other day. He was watching training before he started his medical and I had a chat with him for about 15 minutes. I think he had a couple of options but he was persuaded by another Corkman to come anyway!

He added: "He's only 20 and he's the same size as me so that's a start anyway. He's an athletic right-back, he's young, he's eager, and he's a quiet young guy but he gets his head down and works. With a manager like Steve Bruce he'll get great coaching and the defenders at our club will teach him.

"He'll learn the ropes and hopefully he'll do well for Hull and break into the Irish team in the next few years."

Meanwhile, as well as confirming the arrivals of Lenihan and Hernandez and departure of Boyd on Monday, Hull also announced another transfer deadline day deal had seen Tigers defender Joe Dudgeon extend his loan at Barnsley to January.