Seagulls satisfy transfer hunger as Fati joins from Barcelona

Brighton have beaten the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea to the season-long loan signing of Ansu Fati.

The 20-year-old Barcelona ace represents a huge coup for the Seagulls and is yet more evidence of their progress under the leadership of Roberto De Zerbi.

De Zerbi said: "This is a great deal for all of us. I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back at the level he deserves to be." 

Fati made his debut for the Catalan giants at the age of just 16 and was given the honour of inheriting Lionel Messi's iconic No10 jersey.

But the nine-cap Spain international has struggled for game time since Xavi's arrival as manager, starting only 12 LaLiga matches last term.

He was still Barca's second-top scorer in 2022-23, though, bagging seven league goals and 10 in total.

Alongside the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Solly March, Pascal Gross, Evan Ferguson and Joao Pedro at the Amex Stadium, Fati could take the Premier League by storm and re-announce himself as a world beater in the making.

Technical director David Weir said: "We are delighted to bring Ansu to the club. 

"He is one of the most highly-rated young players in the world and arrives with an impressive amount of experience both domestically and in European competition, despite his age. 

"This season is the biggest in the club's history and we're really happy that a player of Ansu's quality is going to be part of it. 

"We will give him the opportunity to embed himself in the squad and to get used to working with Roberto but naturally we're excited to see him in a Brighton shirt."