Albion Bid for Olympiacos Forward, Real Madrid to Target Bart Verbruggen, and Other Brighton News (News Roundup May 11-18)
Season's not over yet.
Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win on Saturday has likely ended the Seagulls’ hopes of qualifying for Europe. However, there are still two matches left to play, so let’s catch up on all the latest Brighton news before the game against Liverpool.
Transfer News
Incoming Transfers
Charalampos Kostoulas - Brighton bid £30+ million for Olympiacos wonderkid
Greek outlets reported earlier this week that Brighton were ready to offer £30m for Olympiacos forward Charalampos Kostoulas. Later developments from The Athletic revealed that the Seagulls also offered to send Abdallah Sima to Greece as a part of the deal.
Kostoulas, 17, is regarded as one of the best young prospects in European football. Olympiacos rejected Brighton’s offer. However, they are interested in signing Sima (per SDNA) and could be tempted to accept a higher bid, especially if Brighton’s next offer includes a sell-on clause.
Cuiabano - Albion interested in Botafogo left back
According to David Ornstein, Botafogo have rejected two “formal offers” from Brighton for their left back Cuiabano. The first offer was for €5m plus a further €2m in add-ons, while the second was worth €5m plus €3m. Fenerbahce submitted a similar bid for the 22-year-old in January.
Cuiabano has become a key player for the Estrela Solitária since joining them last season and is expected to be in high demand this summer. O Globo reports that Botafogo expect to get at least €10m for the defender in the next transfer window. They add that Brighton are still keeping an eye on Cuiabano and could submit a new bid later in the summer.
Diego Coppola - Seagulls “start talks” with Hellas Verona for young center back
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Brighton are interested in Hellas Verona center back Diego Coppola and that talks are ongoing between the club and the player’s camp. He also claims that several other clubs are keen on signing the 21-year-old.
Promise David - Brighton “very interested” in Union Saint-Gilloise Striker
Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri has reported that Royale Union Saint-Gilloise’s Promise David wants to leave the Belgian club this summer. His report spotlighted Lille as one of the main contenders to sign the Canadian. However, he adds that “Leeds and Brighton are also very interested.”
Jhon Lucumi - Bologna defender linked to Albion amid interest from other clubs
TBR Football claims that Brighton are one of several Premier League clubs who have sent scouts to watch Bologna center back Jhon Lucumi. Liverpool, Brentford, Crystal Palace, and Leeds are keeping tabs on the Colombian. Inter Milan and Juventus are also reportedly interested.
CJ Egan-Riley - Albion interested in signing free agent defender
Another TBR Football report says that Brighton are interested in signing Burnley center back CJ Egan-Riley. The 22-year-old is out of contract this summer and will be available to sign on a free transfer. West Ham, Brentford, and Chelsea are also interested.
However, L'Équipe claims that Strasbourg have already made an offer to the Man City academy graduate and are in a strong position to sign him this summer.
James McAtee - Brighton monitoring Man City midfielder
GIVEMESPORT reported this week that Man City have decided that they are willing to sell James McAtee this summer. The article names Brighton as one of seven PL clubs who are interested in signing the 22-year-old along with Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Everton, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, and Newcastle.
Mathías Oliveira - Brighton keeping tabs on Napoli left back
Eduardo Burgos has linked Brighton to Napoli left back Mathías Oliveira. The Diario AS reporter claims the left back could leave Naples this summer. Atlético Madrid, Tottenham, and Brighton are among the clubs who have “followed his development.” Burgos believes Napoli will ask for around €40m for Oliveira.
Outgoing Transfers
Bart Verbruggen - Real Madrid interested in Brighton No. 1
After having signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, Madrid hope to sign a long-term replacement for Thibaut Courtois this summer. The Sun claims that Bart Verbruggen is one of Real Madrid’s top targets for this position.
The report adds that Brighton are aware of this interest. The club are keeping tabs on Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher and Burnley’s James Trafford, should they lose Verbruggen this summer.
Matt O’Riley - Midfielder “one to watch” for this summer
Fabrizio Romano reported today that Matt O’Riley could leave Brighton this summer. The Danish midfielder is attracting interest from Serie A, Bundesliga, and Premier League clubs.
João Pedro - Liverpool, Chelsea, and others again linked to Brazilian forward
Multiple conflicting reports this week have linked João Pedro to pretty much every club ahead of Brighton in the table, apart from Man City. The Telegraph claims that Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal are strongly interested in the Brazilian.
Caught Offside says Pedro is “attracting interest” from Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Newcastle. TBR Football echoes this report, but adds that Brighton are not ready to let Pedro go. The Independent reports that Pedro is one of many left-sided attacking options Arsenal are considering ahead of the summer window.
Abdallah Sima - Senegalese attacker attracting interest from Germany
If Sima does not go to Olympiacos as a part of the deal for Charalampos Kostoulas, he will have plenty of other opportunities to leave the club this summer. According to Africa Foot, Mainz and Stuttgart are considering signing the Senegalese forward.
James Beadle - Another loan already in the works for GK prospect
20-year-old goalkeeper James Beadle has spent the last two seasons on loan with Sheffield Wednesday. Per The Star, he will not be coming back for a third season. However, he is expected to go back out on loan next season.
Other News & Media
Brighton in talks to renew James Milner’s contract
The Athletic’s Brighton reporter Andy Naylor has revealed that the Albion are set to renew James Milner’s contract at the club. It’s unclear whether the 39-year-old would stay on as a player or join Fabian Hurzeler’s staff as a coach.
Either way, Naylor says Brighton are “keen to continue tapping into Milner’s wealth of top-level experience.”
Albion duo handed England Women call-ups
Brighton Women’s Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris have been called up by England manager Sarina Wiegman for the Lionesses’ upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain on May 30 and June 3, respectively.
João Pedro nominated for Premier League Young Player of the Year Award
João Pedro has been shortlisted for the Premier League Young Player of the Year Award. The 23-year-old is one of eight nominees. You can vote for Pedro here.
Hurzeler calls for more physicality in the squad ahead of the summer window
In a discussion with former Albion managers Mark McGhee and Micky Adams, Fabian Hurzeler hinted at his demands for the upcoming transfer window.
“I can say what I said to the owner. We want to have more physicality because I think football is getting more physical, especially in the Premier League [with] its intensity. The athleticism is so crucial, and I think we can improve,” he said when asked about how he wants to strengthen the squad this summer.
However, Hurzeler also added he is “not a big fan of too much change,” and that he would prefer to have a stable environment for the squad to grow into, especially because the squad is so young.
“We have so many young players like Yasin Ayari, Carlos Baleba, Jack Hinshelwood, Simon Adingra, Minteh, Georgie Rutter. They are all like 20 or 22. What I recognise this season so far was we have bought like six players.
“I think one or two have really adapted so far, and it is Georgie and Minteh. All the others, they suffer. They came here injured, they came here with problems with the intensity, they came here maybe with problems with the culture. I think they also will take the next step… Therefore you need a stable environment where they can grow.”
You can watch the full discussion here. All the quotes above occur in the first two minutes.
Brighton win again at Football Business Awards
The BHAFC Foundation won the Best Football Community Scheme honor at the 2025 Football Business Awards. This is the tenth consecutive season that the foundation has been nominated and the seventh time they have left the ceremony with an award.
Georginio Rutter’s agent implicated in German football scandal
A new report from Kicker (via Get Football News Germany) alleges that Georginio Rutter’s agent Roger Wittmann has been involved in shady business dealings with Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp. The story claims that Wittmann and Hopp arranged deals to personally enrich Wittmann and his agency.
Rutter’s deal from Stade Rennes to Hoffenheim in January 2020 is one of the most egregious examples of Wittmann’s corrupt dealings, according to Kicker. The agent also benefited massively when Rutter was sold to Leeds for an inflated €40.5m transfer fee.
Brighton are not named in the report; it’s very unlikely to affect Rutter’s ability to play for the Seagulls.
Injury News
All quotes are from Fabian Hurzeler unless otherwise noted.
João Pedro is back from suspension and is eligible to play against Liverpool.
Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman “will be back in the squad.”
Kaoru Mitoma “had some small, minor issues… hopefully he will also be a possibility.”
Igor Julio “is also part of the squad, for sure.”
James Milner “is doing rehab on the pitch, so he’s getting closer. I’m not sure if we will see him this season.”
Georginio Rutter “is very close. Hopefully he will be back next week.”
Ferdi Kadioglu is out for the season.
Interviews
Fabian Hurzeler gave an interview to Sky Sports about his first season at the club and how he’s enjoyed life so far in Brighton.
Jason Steele opened up about his mental health challenges and about how he considered quitting football in a Sky Sports interview.
Georginio Rutter spoke to The Argus (via Yahoo Sports) about his first season at Brighton and his current injury struggles.
Amario Cozier-Duberry discussed his “valuable” loan spell at Blackburn with RoversTV.
Excellent round-up again, thanks Cody. O’Riley is a surprise since he hasn’t really found his rhythm with us. Can only think he’s not settled at the club. I would imagine the club will long it out for Verbruggen and see if Real put up. Wouldn’t be surprised if a deal isn’t reached come August. I think the clamour for Pedro will result in a quicker transfer. Is there any interest in Mitoma?
Some interesting names in the hat for incoming transfers.