Brighton are close to signing Stuttgart defensive midfielder Andres Chema after the two clubs reached a verbal agreement over a transfer worth €23m, according to Sky Sport.
The proposed deal would see the 21-year-old Spanish midfielder move to the Premier League club for an initial fee of €23m. Stuttgart would also receive a significant percentage of any future transfer fee if Chema is sold on by Brighton.
Talks between the clubs have made substantial progress during the day, with the agreement now understood to be at an advanced stage. However, the transfer has not yet been completed, and the next step is for Chema to undergo a medical with Brighton.
Chema has already travelled for those examinations, having been given permission to continue the process after the negotiations between Stuttgart and Brighton moved forward. The midfielder is a product of Real Madrid’s academy and would leave Stuttgart after making 41 appearances for the German club.
During those matches, Chema has scored four goals and supplied two assists. He has also received six yellow cards.
The agreement would give Brighton an opportunity to bring in a young player with experience of senior football in Germany, while Stuttgart would retain a financial interest in his future through the proposed sell-on percentage.
At this stage, the reported understanding between the clubs remains verbal. The completion of the medical and the final formalities of the transfer are still required before Chema can officially become a Brighton player.
For Stuttgart, the move would represent the departure of a midfielder who has featured 41 times for the first team. For Brighton, it would be a €23m investment in a 21-year-old player who came through the youth system at Real Madrid before establishing himself at the German side.
Sky Sport’s report indicates that the key financial terms have been agreed, with the fee and future-sale arrangement forming the basis of the deal. Chema’s medical is now the immediate focus as Brighton seek to conclude the transfer.
The midfielder’s arrival would also mark a significant step in his career, taking him from Stuttgart to an English club after his development in Spain and his first-team experience in Germany. At present, the transfer is close but not final, with the medical and remaining paperwork still to be completed.