Europa League-bound Brighton are on the verge of a significant transfer coup this summer, as they have reached a preliminary agreement to sign Ghanaian star Mohamed Kudus.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Brighton is set to pay around £40 million, a club record fee, to Dutch giants Ajax, who have accepted the offer.
Kudus, a highly-rated and versatile attacking midfielder, is close to finalizing personal terms, paving the way for his move to the Premier League.
The signing would be a crucial addition for Brighton as they prepare to compete in European competition for the first time in their history under manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Brighton’s successful pursuit of Kudus is noteworthy, as the player had attracted interest from Premier League giants Arsenal, who considered him as a valuable addition to their squad, providing cover and depth for star player Bukayo Saka.
Also, Chelsea had also shown interest in Kudus, but their pursuit of another Brighton player, Moisés Caicedo, had stalled.
Kudus had a slow start at Ajax but showed his potential during the 2022 World Cup with the Ghana national team. He subsequently impressed in the 2022-23 season, scoring 18 goals and providing 7 assists across all competitions.
Brighton has been active in the transfer market, signing several players like João Pedro, Bart Verbruggen, Igor, Adrian Mazilu, James Milner, and Mahmoud Dahoud.
With these reinforcements and potentially Kudus joining the squad, the team’s prospects for a top-six finish in the Premier League look promising.