Marc Cucurella to join Brighton for €18 million

Brighton have matched the release clause of Getafe midfielder Marc Cucurella worth €18 million, and have agreed the transfer for the player.  The money was paid by the Premier League club earlier today, and Cucurella will travel to England to sign the paperwork and complete his move today itself. 

The announcement by the Seagulls can be expected in the next few hours, or tomorrow at the latest. Cucurella was pursued throughout the summer, and after trying to negotiate a lower price for the Spaniard, Brighton ultimately decided to pay up and match Getafe’s valuation.

Cucurella had a contract until 2024 with the La Liga side which he joined in 2020 as a permanent member. Prior to last summer, he spent the 19/20 season on loan at Getafe and impressed enough for them to sign him permanently for €10 million. Currently valued at €20 million, Brighton have managed to get a good deal with the release clause being just under his value. 

The player came through the Barcelona academy, and when he joined Getafe permanently, Barcelona agreed to a 10% sell-on clause. As a result, Barcelona will receive €1.8 million from Getafe from this transfer. 

Cucurella made his debut for Spain in June of this year, and only has one cap to his name so far. He can play anywhere on the left flank, and his versatility will surely help Graham Potter challenge for a higher finish than they had last year.