O'Riley & Kadioglu incoming, Barco joins Sevilla, & other Brighton news from the last 7 days (Brighton news roundup Aug. 18 - Aug. 24)
We're going to win the league.
Two wins and two more signings confirmed. Let’s get into it. Here are all the biggest Brighton news stories from the past seven days that you might have missed.
Transfer News
Incoming Transfers
Georginio Rutter - £40m club record signing confirmed
After having all but confirmed the transfer last week, Brighton have officially announced the signing of Georginio Rutter. The Albion triggered Rutter’s £40m release clause just before it expired last week.
The 22-year-old is now Brighton’s club record signing. His contract runs through June 2029. Rutter made his debut for Brighton against Manchester United on Saturday, where he impressed in a short, seven-minute cameo.
Ferdi Kadıoğlu & Matt O’Riley - New signing announcements coming soon
The Ferdi Kadıoğlu & Matt O’Riley transfer sagas appear to finally be over. Reports from Turkey, Scotland, and elsewhere claim the deals are done. Everyone’s favorite Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has given both deals his trademarked “Here we go” stamp of approval.
Fenerbahçe also confirmed that Kadıoğlu has gone to England to complete the final steps of his move to Brighton.
Most reports claim the Seagulls will pay £25m for O’Riley and £30m for Kadıoğlu. Both fees are record outgoing transfers for their respective leagues.
Jelena Cankovic & Bruna Vilamala - Brighton Women confirm two signings
Brighton Women have signed striker Bruna Vilamala on loan from Barcelona. The 22-year-old has played over 50 games for Barca and recently made her debut for Spain in June.
The club have also signed Serbian international Jelena Cankovic on a permanent transfer from Chelsea. The attacking midfielder won back-to-back WSL titles alongside Fran Kirby with the Blues in 2023 and 2024.
Olivier Boscagli (update) - PSV adamant about not selling star center back
According to Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink, PSV are extremely unwilling to let center back Olivier Boscagli leave this season. The Eredivisie champions maintain that he “cannot be sold.”
Despite this, Boscagli is reportedly pushing hard for a move, and has made his intentions clear that he only wants to join Brighton. Elfrink says a transfer is not “off the table,” but it’s too early to say whether Brighton will actually get the deal done.
Scott McTominay - Brighton, Fulham, Palace monitoring Man Utd midfielder
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has been strongly linked with a move to Napoli. However, a new report from The Sun claims Brighton, Fulham, and Crystal Palace may also make a move for McTominay once United officially decide that they are willing to let the Scotsman go.
Milan Skriniar - Brighton interested in possible loan move for PSG center back
CalcioMercato have reported that Milan Skriniar is no longer wanted at PSG. Brighton Everton were listed among the clubs interested in signing the veteran center back on loan, should PSG subsidize a significant amount of his salary.
Outgoing Transfers
Valentín Barco - Wonderkid left back loaned to Sevilla
Sevilla have signed left back Valentín Barco on loan for the 2024/25 season. This is a bit of a surprise move as Barco impressed at the end of last season and in pre-season this year.
Fabian Hurzeler says this deal will be a “great opportunity for him to go and get experience and minutes.” Barco should be a key player for Sevilla following the departure of Marcos Acuña to River Plate earlier in the window.
Billy Gilmour (update) - Napoli and Brighton agree to €18m transfer
With Matt O'Riley coming in soon, Billy Gilmour looks to finally be on his way out. Gianluca Di Marzio and other Italian journalists claim the deal is practically done. Napoli will pay €18m for the Scotsman.
Abdallah Sima - Brest sign Brighton forward on loan
Forward Abdallah Sima has joined Brest on loan. According to Express Sport's Charlie Parker-Turner, the loan contains a €6m (£5m) buy-option. This is Sima’s fourth loan away from the club since Brighton bought him from Slavia Prague for £6m in 2021.
Jeremy Sarmiento - Sheffield United, Burnley interested in Ecuadorian winger
Brighton are debating whether to send Jeremy Sarmiento out on loan again or to finally sell the attacking midfielder. Both Sheffield United and Burnley are interested in signing Sarmiento on a permanent deal. According to EFL journalist Alan Nixon, Brighton could be tempted to let him go if either club offers £6m-7m for him.
Reports from Ecuador are less optimistic about Sarmiento’s future at Brighton. Leading outlet El Comercio have reported that Sarmiento is no longer in the Albion’s future plans.
Malick Yalcouye - St. Pauli loan deal off, Sturm Graz now interested
Wonderkid Malick Yalcouye will not be going to St. Pauli on loan this season. Charlie Parker-Turner, who first reported St. Pauli’s interest, claims the deal has collapsed. Austrian side Sturm Graz are now working on a deal to sign Yalcouye on loan.
Tariq Lamptey - Clubs testing the waters for potential transfer
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth claims clubs “in England, Italy and Germany” have enquired about Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey. The right back has one year left on his contract with the Seagulls. No concrete talks have been held with any club about a move.
Amario Cozier-Duberry - Championship loan likely
Andy Naylor revealed this week that Brighton plan to loan out new signing Amario Cozier-Duberry. The veteran reporter claims there is “widespread interest from Championship clubs” in Cozier-Duberry. No specific clubs were named. Other less-reputable sources have linked the winger to Blackburn Rovers.
Samy Chouchane - Top U21 prospect joins Northampton Town on loan
Samy Chouchane, one of the U21-team’s most important players, is headed to League One on loan with Northampton Town. He is one of a number of Brighton players who have spent time with the Cobblers in recent years.
Other News
Solly March returns to training
Solly March is finally back to training after tearing his ACL last year. The 30-year-old has been out of action since October 2023. ACL injuries are always bad, but his was believed to be a pretty severe one. He required two surgeries to correct the injury.
It’s still too early to say when we might see March back on the pitch. Fabian Huerzeler said this week that he is “so happy” to have Solly back. “He went through a hard time, not only physically but also mentally,” Huerzeler added.
Barco, Enciso earn international call ups
Valentin Barco and Julio Enciso have been called up by Argentina and Paraguay, respectively, for their nation’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September. It’s unclear how much Enciso will play, given that he has just returned from an injury he suffered at the Olympics while playing with Paraguay. Future signing Diego Gomez has also been called up by Paraguay.