Brighton have officially confirmed the signing of Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba from Lille. Baleba joins The Seagulls for a reported fee of €30m and signs a 5-year contract at the American Express Community Stadium until 2028.
Brighton were reportedly considering other targets to Baleba as Lille were unwilling to move on their asking price, with Arsenal’s Albert Sambi-Lokonga an option. However, Brighton were able to find a common ground with Les Dogues and get a deal done for the 19-year-old.
Despite his inexperience, making just 23 senior appearances to date, the promising midfielder is seen as Brighton’s replacement for Moisés Caicedo who has joined Chelsea for a British record fee of £115m. Upon completing the deal to sign Baleba, the former Lille midfielder’s new boss Roberto De Zerbi said “Carlos is a very good player. He’s very young but a specific player for our style. He will be the future of the club“.
GFFN | Liam Wraith
