Brighton & Hove Albion’s defensive rebuild is gathering pace as Fabian Hurzeler looks to reshape his backline ahead of the new season.
The Seagulls have already lost key defender Jan Paul van Hecke this summer, while Adam Webster departed following the expiration of his contract.
Igor Julio is also expected to leave the Amex in the coming weeks, leaving Brighton short of options at centre-back.
Although the club remain in discussions with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential move for highly-rated Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic, it appears they have already secured another addition.
Brighton Agree Svoboda Deal
According to Sky Sports News reporter Elliot Cook, Brighton are closing in on the signing of Venezia defender Michael Svoboda after agreeing to trigger the Austrian’s release clause.
The Premier League side have agreed a deal worth around £4 million for the 27-year-old, with personal terms not expected to present any issues.
Svoboda is currently away on international duty with Austria at the World Cup and will be hoping to add to his growing collection of caps. The defender featured in his country’s recent defeat to Argentina, where Lionel Messi scored twice in a 2-0 victory.
Having impressed in Italy with Venezia, Svoboda has developed a reputation as a reliable and composed centre-back capable of playing out from the back, qualities that fit Brighton’s style of play.
With several defensive departures already confirmed and more potentially on the horizon, Brighton have moved quickly to strengthen a position that has become a priority this summer.
The deal is not yet officially completed, but all indications suggest Svoboda is set to become the latest addition to Hurzeler’s squad as Brighton continue preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.
