Brighton transfer news: ‘£20m deal agreed’ to sign “instrumental” Premier League centre-back

Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly closing successful connected the signing of Leeds United centre-back Pascal Struijk.

The Seagulls person been seeking antiaircraft reinforcements aft selling Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham Hotspur for £52m earlier this month.

Adam Webster has besides departed upon the expiration of his contract, portion determination is thought to beryllium uncertainty implicit the semipermanent aboriginal of Diego Coppola who spent past play retired connected loan.

Fabian Hurzeler’s broadside person made aggregate bids for Spurs centre-back Luka Vuskovic, who is presently representing Croatia astatine the 2026 World Cup, and they are yet to perceive a effect pursuing their latest £45m offer.

In the meantime, Brighton person been exploring different antiaircraft deals, and The Athletic claims that a £20m statement is present successful spot to motion Struijk from Leeds.

The study adds that the presumption of the transportation were agreed connected Saturday, with the Seagulls present expected to formally nonstop their connection to Leeds.

Brighton closing successful connected £20m Struijk signing from Leeds

Struijk’s existent declaration astatine Elland Road is owed to expire successful June 2027, leaving Leeds astatine hazard of losing the 26-year-old for escaped successful 12 months if helium was neither sold nor tied down to caller presumption this summer.

It was reported earlier this year that Leeds caput manager Daniel Farke had informed the club’s hierarchy to rebuff offers for Struijk and manus the defender a caller contract.

The Whites person besides been warned that it would beryllium a hazard to merchantability “instrumental” and “captain-esque” Struijk by erstwhile winger Jermaine Pennant.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, helium said: “If determination is simply a replacement who is conscionable arsenic good, who is simply a small spot cheaper, past I deliberation that could beryllium a bully program for concern for the club, but successful saying that, it's a risk.

“Players travel to the Premier League who are not Premier League proven. We cognize that Struijk is now. We’ve seen it week-in, week-out, he’s a precise instrumental idiosyncratic successful this Leeds team. He’s similar a captain-esque fig successful that team.

“If you don’t request to [sell him], past successful my eyes, you’ve got to support him, but if you’re struggling for PSR, past it’s not a atrocious idea."

Struijk acceptable to permission Leeds aft astir 9 years astatine Elland Road

Struijk has established himself arsenic a accordant performer nether Farke and helium impressed arsenic a left-sided centre-back successful a 3-5-2 enactment during the 2025-26 campaign, helping Leeds debar relegation from the Premier League.

The Ajax academy merchandise has spent the past eight-and-a-half years successful West Yorkshire and has played a full of 182 times for Leeds crossed each competitions, portion lone Ethan Ampadu (3,588) played much minutes for the nine than Struijk (3,167) past season.

Struijk besides played a portion successful some of Leeds’ Championship titles triumphs successful 2019-20 and 2024-25, but helium present looks acceptable to determination to South Coast to articulation a Brighton outfit looking guardant to Conference League shot adjacent season.

Meanwhile, Brighton are understood to person submitted a £30m bid for an 18-year-old defender, though prising him distant from his existent nine could beryllium challenging.