Transfer News UPDATE: Brighton Unveil New Signing Carlos Baleba From Ligue 1 Club Lille

UPDATE: Tuesday, August 29 at 23:30 pm

BRIGHTON officially unveiled Carlos Baleba as their latest signing this Tuesday, August 29.

We're delighted to confirm the signing of Carlos Baleba from Lille, for undisclosed terms! 🙌

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 29, 2023

In an official statement published on brightonandhovealbion.com, the Seagulls wrote: ‘We are delighted to confirm the signing of Carlos Baleba from Lille, for undisclosed terms. The 19-year-old has joined on a five-year deal, until June 2028’.

‘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’, commented Brighton manager, Roberto De Zerbi.

David Weir, the club’s technical director added: ‘We are really happy to be able to bring Carlos to the club. He’s 19 and will need some time to get used to his new surroundings, our culture and the language; he will get all the support he needs to make that transition and we’re looking forward to seeing him in action’.

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UPDATE: Monday, August 28 at 10:09 pm

CARLOS BALEBA has reportedly arrived on the south coast of England where he is expected to undergo medical tests with Brighton and Hove Albion this evening, August 28.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the respected Italian football transfer expert, the 19-year-old Lille and Cameroon international midfielder already has a verbal agreement with the Seagulls.

Romano tweeted: ‘Carlos Baleba will undergo medical tests as new Brighton player later today, in the afternoon — completing formal process to join the club on Tuesday  Fee confirmed: €27m plus €3m add-ons and sell-on clause included for Lille. Contract valid until June 2028. #BHAFC’.

Carlos Baleba will undergo medical tests as new Brighton player later today, in the afternoon — completing formal process to join the club on Tuesday 🔵🇨🇲

Fee confirmed: €27m plus €3m add-ons and sell-on clause included for Lille.

Contract valid until June 2028. #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/zFhLohWXZO

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 28, 2023

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Saturday, August 26 at 10:02 pm

BRIGHTON are reported to have reached a verbal agreement in their pursuit of Lille’s midfield star Carlos Baleba.

According to a tweet this Saturday, August 25, from the respected Italian football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, a deal is close to being completed for the 19-year-old Cameroon international.

Baleba is seen as a ready-made replacement for Moises Caicedo who recently left the Seagulls to sign for Chelsea in what was a £115m record-breaking British transfer.

Romano posted: ‘Carlos Baleba to Brighton, here we go! Verbal agreement reached with Lille on €27m fixed fee plus €3m add-ons and sell-on clause included  #BHAFC Personal terms agreed, medical booked. 2004 born midfielder will replace Caicedo. Exclusive from 2 weeks ago, confirmed’.

Carlos Baleba to Brighton, here we go! Verbal agreement reached with Lille on €27m fixed fee plus €3m add-ons and sell-on clause included 🚨🔵 #BHAFC

Personal terms agreed, medical booked.

2004 born midfielder will replace Caicedo.

Exclusive from 2 weeks ago, confirmed. pic.twitter.com/njZCjbzzWp

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2023

The teenager can operate as a centre-back if required but is predominantly a midfielder. After making his debut only last season, his performances in Ligue 1 brought Baleba to the attention of several top European clubs, including the Premier League trio of Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.

He turned out 21 times for Paulo Fonseca’s team, helping them to a fifth-place finish in the league and securing a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying stages.

Brighton have done some excellent business during this current transfer window, pulling in around £170m with the sale of three top players. Should the deal for Baleba – believed to be worth around €30m – go through as expected then they will still be more than £90m in profit.

Brighton sold three top players this summer

Caicedo’s move to the Blues was the biggest sale, along with those of Spanish international goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to Chelsea and Argentina’s World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool.

Roberto De Zerbi recently lost his Paraguayan international playmaker Julio Enciso for four months after he sustained a knee injury. The South American arrived at the Amex Stadium from Club Libertad in June 2022 and made an instant impact.

He bagged four goals and provided two assists last season and finished on a massive high after winning the Premier League Goal of the Season award. That came for his stunning 25-yard strike against Manchester City which sealed Europa League football for Brighton for the first time in their history.