Neither AZ Alkmaar or Norway are particularly well-watched in England, but anyone who watches either knows that Hull City have signed a special player.

Hull City signing Markus Henriksen in action for Norway

Markus Henriksen is not a name that will be familiar to most Premier League football fans, as the Norwegian midfielder has played all his club football out of the spotlight in Norway and Holland to date.

Yet the 24-year-old is a signing Hull City fans should be very excited about. A roaming midfielder who has been likened to Frank Lampard, Henriksen has great stamina, intelligence and shooting abilities.

Tipped for greatness from a young age, Henriksen has had interest from the likes of Manchester City, Everton, Napoli and Werder Bremen at various stages of his career.

Manchester City and Everton have previously shown interest in Henriksen

Unlike many players in his position though, he did not jump the gun as soon as a big money offer or the chance to join one of Europe’s elite presented itself.

With his on-pitch intelligence being matched off the field in this sense, Henriksen has been calm and considered throughout his career, choosing first to stay at Rosenberg where he knew he would play regularly and grow as a player, even turning down a contract from Club Brugge in 2012.

When he did leave Rosenberg, it was for a well-conceived move to AZ Alkmaar, where he immediately became a key player, beating the likes of Jozy Altidore (who scored 31 goals that season) and teenage sensation Adam Maher to be named AZ’s 2013 Player of the Season.

Henriksen became a key player at AZ Alkmaar

He crowned his debut season at AZ with a KNVB Cup title, the club’s first in over 30 years, and he has continued to grow as a player in the three years which have followed.

Always a clever and skilful footballer, one thing Henriksen has really added to his game in recent years is goals. Having scored 5 in his first two seasons at AZ, he scored 7 in 2014/15 and an incredible 19 last campaign.

A midfield player who can score 20 goals, or close to, is a very rare commodity in football these days, and if he can come anywhere near to that kind of figure in the Premier League he will have justified his transfer fee.

Henriksen has been compared to Chelsea legend Frank Lampard

For the first time this season, Hull City’s caretaker manager Mike Phelan will have a selection headache. The talented Henriksen, record signing Ryan Mason and James Weir will all have to vie with the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Sam Clucas and David Meyler for a midfield berth, as well as Jake Livermore if the Spurs midfielder is ever moved back to his original position.

Whether Sir Alex’s former assistant will choose to be a little more adventurous now remains to be seen, but the Tigers have been built on a rigidity and toughness to beat so far this season, which Phelan will be reluctant to jeopardise.

Dropping anyone in this Hull City team right now would seem harsh, but given Ryan Mason’s sizeable transfer fee and Henriksen’s frightening potential, one would expect them to break into Phelan’s starting XI sooner rather than later.

Hull City caretaker manager Mike Phelan could have a selection headache

Ultimately though, the Hull City squad is still a thin one, currently boasting only 16 fit senior outfield players, two of which (Weir and Keane) are youngsters signed from Manchester United, likely to be on the periphery of the starting XI.

When injuries and suspensions inevitably kick in, every player in the Hull City squad is likely to be called upon. How and when Henriksen will break into the team we shall see, but fans in East Yorkshire have cause to be excited.

The goal scoring midfielder will link up with Norway international Adama Diomande at the KCOM Stadium, and Henriksen said the forward gave a very good reference of the club before he signed on the dotted line.

Hull City’s Adama Diomande helped convince Henriksen to join the club

There was a suggestion at one point that the deal for Henriksen would only take place if Abel Hernandez had made a move to Aston Villa.

Hull City fans will be glad that wasn’t the case though, as Henriksen’s signing is a crucial one. Although the club has more depth in the centre of midfield than many other positions, following the sale of Mo Diame to Newcastle United, Hull needed a player of the Senegalese’s ilk.

Henriksen should provide the spark, creativity, goals and assists required due to Diame’s departure. Officially only on loan currently, Henriksen will join Hull on a permanent deal in January for somewhere in the region of £5 million.

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