Not really a surprise, but very nice to see some business getting done and done with plenty of time for him to fall into line with the new manager and his way of doing things. Actually, you could look at this as perfect timing.
And I wrote last week that I think when the first one happens others might, but that is just me thinking about what would be perfect - it isn't me knowing anything. With every new manager comes a new way of doing things and I'm not 'in the know' like others claim to be but it would make sense to get as many of the new players he wants in just as the others are coming back.
A picture of Karim El Ahmadi
Some words from Karim El Ahmadi
This club should be competing in the top half of the table and I am looking forward to achieving that with the team. It was always a dream of mine to play in the Premier League. We played a lot on Sundays in Holland, so I was able to watch all of the games on Saturday and I think this is the best league in the world. It will be a challenge to show people what I can do.
Last year was successful for me and for Feyenoord - we qualified for the Champions League - but sometimes in life you have to make choices. I came to this club and spoke to the people here and they gave me great confidence in what we can do this year, so I have chosen to come. As a player, I always want to have the ball and that is my main quality. I always want the ball and to dictate the game. That's what I did at Feyenoord and hopefully I can show the fans, the club and the manager my quality.
Some more speculation
And to top it all off, there is further speculation linking us with Yacine Brahimi and much like Karim El Ahmadi, I've got to go with blind optimism and hope, because I have no idea.