Brighton confirm the signing of Diego Gomez from Inter Miami

Brighton & Hove Albion have announced the signing of midfielder Diego Gomez from Inter Miami.

The athlete reported in September that Brighton would sign Gomez for a fee of 11 million pounds ($14 million), with the 21-year-old staying with Miami until the end of the 2024 MLS season. According to Miami, Brighton paid a club-record fee that was “among the most expensive foreign transfers in MLS history.”

Miami’s 2024 season ended with a playoff loss to Atlanta United last month and Gomez will officially join Brighton on January 1 when the transfer window opens.

“We look forward to working with Diego in the near future,” said Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler. “He has already made a real impact at both club and international level.

“Like all young players who come to us from abroad, he will need a period of adjustment to the Premier League, but I think he can make a big contribution and I look forward to working with him.”

Gomez played 28 times for Miami in 2024, missing some time with an ankle injury. He scored six goals and seven assists and was named No. 1 in the MLS’ 22 U22 series in October. He came to Miami in 2023 from the Paraguayan first division club Club Libertad and had a contract until 2026 with an option for another year.

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Gomez is a senior Paraguayan international and also represented his country’s under-23 team at the Paris Olympics this summer, losing to Egypt in the quarter-finals.

Brighton technical director David Weir added: “We are delighted to welcome Diego to the club and we believe he will be a very good addition to our squad.”

“He is a dynamic midfielder who can contribute goals and assists and we believe his physical profile will be important as he adapts to the challenge of the Premier League.

“He only recently finished the MLS season, so we are confident he will be ready to fight for a place in the squad when he joins us next month.”

Brighton are seventh in the Premier League and host rivals Crystal Palace in their next game on Sunday. Gomez’s first opportunity to represent his new team will come on January 4 when Brighton host Arsenal in the Premier League, followed by an FA Cup third round trip to Norwich City a week later.

“The growth Diego has shown as a player since joining Inter Miami has been exponential,” said Miami President of Football Operations Raul Sanllehi. “His contributions to the team in both midfield and attack were crucial for us at a historic time.

“The club has believed in his ability and potential from the start of the process and everyone at the club is delighted to have supported his development. We are delighted that Diego will continue to represent us as he makes the leap to one of the world’s top leagues, the English Premier League.”

“Gomez is part of Brighton’s midfield rebuild”

Gomez’s signing continues a major overhaul of Brighton’s midfield since Moises Caicedo was sold to Chelsea and Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool in the summer of 2023.

This summer’s transfer window saw the departure of Billy Gilmour to Naples and the return of Pascal Gross to Germany to join boyhood club Borussia Dortmund.

Almost £200m was spent on nine new signings, including midfielders Matt O’Riley from Celtic (£25m) and Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord (£25m).

Gomez will also have to compete for a place with three exciting young talents: Cameroon international Carlos Baleba, Swedish international Yasin Ayari and England U21 international Jack Hinshelwood.

(Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)