Brighton announce the signing of central defender Diego Coppola

Brighton have announced the signing of central defender Diego Coppola from Serie A side Hellas Verona.

Brighton’s summer transfer window is well underway, adding Diego Coppola to their defensive department just days after announcing the signing of 18 year old forward Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiacos.

Widely known for the selling of assets for huge profits, it seems that the Seagulls have attempted to change the narrative in recent windows, spending €281.45m across the 2024/25 term and receiving just €49.99m from player sales.

The acquisition of Coppola for just €11.00m is the type of signing that we are used to seeing from Brighton, however.

Aged 21, the Italian central defender made his Serie A breakthrough in the 2022/23 term, playing 19 games in the division.

His involvement in the Hellas Verona team has only increased since that campaign, playing 24 times in the 2023/24 Serie A season, and 34 times in the most recent league term as his side recorded a 14th placed finish.

With the likes of Joel Veltman (33), Lewis Dunk (33) and Adam Webster (30) currently at their disposal, it’s understandable as to why Brighton and Fabian Hurzeler are looking to add some youth to the backline, and statistics suggest that Coppola could have the tactical awareness and physical attributes to prosper in the Premier League.

Diego Coppola Stats

*Compared to positional peers in Men's Top 5 Leagues based on 2927 minutes played.

Ranked in the top one percentile for interceptions, Coppola clearly possesses the ability to read the game, an attribute required in order to perform at the top level in England's top flight.

Standing at 6ft 4ins, the central defender has proved a monster in the air during his time in Serie A, averaging 4.09 aerial duels won per 90. To put that into perspective, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, arguably the greatest defender the league currently has to offer, averages 2.85 aerial duels won per 90.

Impressive numbers for a central defender aged just 21, but the transition from the Serie A to the Premier League is rarely effortless.

Ellis Statham

• Brighton and Hove Albion F.C.
• Premier League
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