Brighton add Struijk, pursue Ahanor target
Brighton sign Pascal Struijk from Leeds on a five-year deal. Fabian Hurzeler hails his Premier League experience, ball-playing style and leadership after 196 Leeds appearances and last season’s FA Cup semi-final run.
Maarten Stekelenburg hails Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen after standout World Cup displays, saying he would be ‘right at home’ at Barcelona or Real Madrid and praising his calm and ability to handle pressure.
Lazio are negotiating with Brighton to sign Diego Coppola. The 22-year-old, bought from Hellas Verona then loaned to Paris FC, fits new Italian U23 rules and could join quickly amid Lazio’s defensive rebuild.
Atalanta reject Brighton’s £30m bid for 2008-born centre-back Honest Ahanor, with the Serie A side valuing him at £40–45m. The Nigeria-eligible defender is seen as a long-term cornerstone.
Brighton sign Portugal U21 winger Rodrigo Rego from Benfica on a five-year deal. The 21-year-old made five first-team appearances, including a Champions League debut against Ajax, with Mike Cave hailing his potential.
Brighton are prepared to pay €20m for Cologne winger Jakub Kaminski, whose release clause expires in mid-July. The 24-year-old wants to ‘fulfil his dream’ of playing in England after recording 7 goals and 5 assists last season.
