New contract for Mitoma imminent, Celtic center back linked & other Brighton news (Brighton news roundup Mar. 2-15)
A lot has happened since my last news roundup. The men are challenging for the top five and now on international break, while Brighton Women take on Tottenham today at 3pm BST (watch here for free). Let’s get caught up on all the biggest stories.
Transfer News
Incoming Transfers
Jonathan David - Canadian star forward rejects Brighton & West Ham offers
According to Caught Offside, Lille striker Jonathan David has ruled out a move to Brighton. The Canadian international has also reportedly turned down advances from West Ham. The report says he would prefer to “move to a top-tier Premier League club.”
Lennon Miller - Union Saint-Gilloise set to sign midfielder linked to Brighton
Alan Nixon of the Scottish Sun has reported that Union Saint-Gilloise are keen on signing Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller this summer, with a plan to eventually sell him to Brighton after he gets European exposure. The report claims that Brighton owner Tony Bloom has endorsed the deal.
However, it’s worth noting that Bloom no longer has a minority stake in Union Saint-Gilloise. Even if this report is true, the Belgian club will have plenty of competition to sign Miller. Nixon claims Celtic and “every top club in England” are also keeping track of the 18-year-old.
Cameron Carter-Vickers - Albion, other PL clubs eyeing Celtic center back
TBR Football say that Brighton are one of many clubs “in pursuit” of Celtic center back Cameron Carter-Vickers. The US international has been one of the Bhoys’ best players since joining the club from Tottenham in 2022.
Ipswich Town attempted to sign Carter-Vickers last summer. Aston Villa, Everton, and Crystal Palace are the other clubs listed as being currently interested in the 27-year-old.
Milton Delgado - Brighton “express interest” in Boca Juniors midfielder
Boca Noticias in Argentina have reported that Brighton are looking at signing Boca Juniors midfielder Milton Delgado. The Argentine U-20 international has become a regular contributor for the Xeneize in 2025 and could go on to be one of their star players this season.
Delgado’s current contract runs through the end of 2028. Boca Juniors are working to extend his contract. Brighton have previously signed Valentin Barco and Alexis Mac Allister from the Argentine club.
Santiago Lencina - River Plate youngster linked to Brighton
Another report from Argentina claims Brighton are “keeping an eye” on 19-year-old River Plate midfielder Santiago Lencina. Like Delgado, Lencina has recently broken into the first team at his current club. However, he is not really an established player yet.
Lencina’s contract expires in 2026. Brighton have yet to make an offer, but they are actively monitoring his situation, the report says.
Zac Shuaib - Arsenal academy midfielder on trial at Brighton
Arsenal 17-year-old Zac Shuaib was recently spotted on trial with Brighton in the Seagulls’ U-18 match against Southampton last weekend. Per multiple sources, the Gunners are unlikely to offer the midfielder a professional contract.
Outgoing Transfers
Kaoru Mitoma - New contract incoming amid interest from other clubs
Caught Offside has reported that Brighton are close to agreeing to a new contract with Kaoru Mitoma. The star winger’s current deal runs through 2027. Brighton are hoping to tie him down to a new deal through June 2030.
This news comes amid rumors linking Mitoma to numerous big clubs. So far, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been mentioned as clubs who are tracking the Japanese international. However, new clubs are seemingly linked every week.
Jan Paul van Hecke - Liverpool “showing interest” in Dutch defender
After playing a key role in Brighton’s current unbeaten streak, center back Jan Paul van Hecke has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for several big clubs in Europe. GIVEMESPORT claims that Liverpool are “showing interest” in the Dutchman, while Voetbal International reporter Joost Blaauwhof says Van Hecke is being “followed by top European clubs.”
Yasin Ayari - Milan, Dortmund watching Brighton midfielder
Football Insider Transfer Correspondent Pete O'Rourke has reported that Yasin Ayari is “attracting interest” from AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund. His report claims that both sides are weighing up a potential move for Ayari and that they are ready to “test Brighton’s resolve” as the Seagulls have expressed no desire to sell the Swede.
FotbollDirekt say that it will take at least £30.5m to sign Ayari. This report also revealed that AIK, Ayari’s former club, will collect 15% of the 21-year-old’s next sale due to a sell-on clause that was included in his original £3m transfer to Brighton in 2023.
Other News & Media
Aston Villa match moved for FA Cup
As a result of beating Newcastle in the FA Cup and advancing to the Quarter-finals stage, Brighton’s Premier League match against Aston Villa on Saturday March 29th has been moved to Wednesday April 2nd. The Albion will instead take on Nottingham Forest on March 29th.
Kaoru Mitoma wins Premier League Goal of the Month for February
Kaoru Mitoma has won the Premier League Goal of the Month for February for his sensational first touch and strike in Brighton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea at the Amex. You can see every angle of the award-winning goal in a great video put together by the club here.
Tariq Lamptey suffers bad injury in training
After Brighton’s 2-2 draw with Man City, manager Fabian Hurzeler revealed that Tariq Lamptey’s absence from the match was more than just a minor knock (as was previously reported).
“Tariq has a bigger issue (than Solly March, who also missed the match)...He had a bad moment in the training session, and I can’t say exactly how long he will be out.”
Paul Barber makes waves with Football Focus comments
Speaking on the BBC’s Football Focus ahead of the match against Man City on Saturday, Brighton CEO Paul Barber was asked about whether Carlos Baleba and Kaoru Mitoma will be Brighton players next season. The veteran executive dodged answering the question directly, but did reveal that Brighton know they will lose Baleba, Mitoma, and others eventually.
“We know that our best players are always going to be sought after by bigger clubs, with big budgets. We’d love to keep our best players for as long as we can, but part of our model is being prepared to sell at the right time. We’re not saying that that's going to be this summer, but certainly in the future, we know that that’s probably likely to happen.”
This comment came just weeks after Barber gave an exclusive interview with The Athletic where he said that Brighton fans should not expect big signings in the near future.
“We are not comfortable buying at those levels and we will always be looking to buy at lower levels in order to make our model work,” Barber said of the transfer fees Brighton paid for Joao Pedro and Georginio Rutter.
Olivia Johnson - Academy player signs first professional contract
Brighton Women have signed Olivia Johnson to a professional contract. The 18-year-old midfielder has been a member of Brighton’s academy for the last four years and made her first senior appearance for the Seagulls back in March 2024.
Albion announce Players' Awards at new The Terrace venue
If you are a local fan, you can attend Brighton’s 2025 Players' Awards ceremony at the brand new The Terrace venue. Tickets will go on sale on March 26th. You can learn more about the event and how to attend both in-person and virtually here.
Tony Bloom buys stake in A-League club Melbourne Victory
Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory announced on Thursday that Brighton owner Tony Bloom has purchased a 19.1% stake in the club. The deal also gives Bloom the ability to increase his ownership stake in the Victory over time. Bloom’s wife is Australian and his family spends time in Oz every year.
The stake in the Victory purchased by Bloom was previously owned by the now-bankrupt 777 Partners group. This deal also comes at a time where the A-League –and the Melbourne Victory specifically– are in a financial crisis. This deal alone won’t solve the club or the league’s problems, but it could be a sign of changing tides as Bloom rarely gets his investments wrong (more on that later).
Manchester United Doctor to join Brighton staff
According to the Telegraph’s Matt Law, Brighton are set to benefit from the mass exodus of staff from Old Trafford this season. Manchester United first-team doctor Jim Moxon is “in line” to join the Albion. His exit has been described as a shock one as he was a “key figure” in Man Utd’s staff.
Albion nominated for multiple industry awards
Brighton have been shortlisted for multiple sports business awards this week. The club has been nominated for the Sport Team of the Year category for the Sport Industry Awards 2025 and for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award and the Sustainability Award at the Football Business Awards.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia links to Brighton revealed
In a profile of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the Daily Mail ahead of PSG’s match against Liverpool in the Champions League last week, the British rag revealed that Brighton nearly signed the Georgian winger in the summer of 2020.
The report claims Brighton were torn between signing Kvaratskhelia from Rubin Kazan or Kaoru Mitoma from Kawasaki Frontale. There’s not much else to this story besides the obvious point that Brighton’s scouting department continues to be one of the best in world football.