Hull City have completed the signing of French forward Mohamed-Ali Cho from Ligue 1 outfit Nice, with the 22-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year deal at the MKM Stadium.
The move marks the Tigers' 12th piece of summer business as the club continues its ambitious rebuild following promotion back to the Premier League after a nine-year absence.
Cho arrives with a wealth of experience despite his relatively young age. Over a two-and-a-half-year stint with Nice, he made 93 appearances, contributing 12 goals and 13 assists. His time in the south of France also saw him gain continental exposure, featuring 13 times in the Europa League, adding to European pedigree he had already picked up during a loan spell with Real Sociedad, where he appeared in the Champions League.
The forward's footballing journey has taken him across borders. Born in France but brought up in England, Cho represented the Three Lions at Under-16 level before opting to switch his international allegiance to France, for whom he has since featured at Under-21 level. His professional career began at Angers, where he made his senior debut at just 16 years old and went on to become the club's youngest ever goalscorer, a testament to the early promise that has followed him through his career.
Hull's pursuit of Cho fits into a broader pattern of aggressive recruitment since securing their place in the top flight via the Championship play-offs, where they overcame Middlesbrough in the final. The East Yorkshire club has now spent in excess of £75m this summer alone, a considerable outlay reflecting the scale of their ambition as they prepare for life back among England's elite.
Among the standout deals already sealed by Hull is the club-record acquisition of Senegalese defender Nobel Mendy, underlining the club's intent to strengthen across multiple areas of the pitch rather than focus solely on attacking reinforcements. The addition of Cho now bolsters an attacking unit that will be tasked with adapting quickly to the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League.
Hull's return to the top flight has already produced a landmark moment, with the club securing a first-ever Premier League victory over Manchester United in their opening fixture of the campaign. That result offered an early signal that the Tigers may be capable of holding their own against more established opposition, and the club's continued investment in the squad suggests a determination to build on that platform rather than simply survive.
With a squad now featuring a dozen new arrivals, Hull's recruitment drive appears far from over as they seek to assemble a group capable of competing consistently at Premier League level. Cho's versatility and continental experience are expected to provide additional attacking options as the Tigers look to establish themselves following their long-awaited return to the top division.
The club will be hopeful that Cho can adapt swiftly to English football, drawing on the technical grounding developed during his formative years in France and the tactical lessons picked up during his loan exposure to Champions League football with Real Sociedad.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.