Paris FC agree €20m deal with Brighton for Diego Coppola

Four days after FootballPlace revealed that Paris FC were in talks with Brighton & Hove Albion over Diego Coppola, the deal is now all but complete.

The newly-promoted Ligue 1 side have reached an agreement worth €20 million to sign the Italian centre-back on a permanent transfer after his impressive loan spell in the French capital during the second half of last season.

The agreement brings an end to weeks of negotiations and delivers one of Paris FC's biggest signings of the summer.

On 9 July, FootballPlace reported that Paris FC were pushing to keep Coppola after his successful loan spell, with discussions centred on finding the right structure for a permanent move.

At the time, Brighton were weighing up several options, including another loan, while Lazio were also monitoring the defender's situation.

Those talks have now produced a breakthrough, with a €20 million package agreed between the two clubs.

Coppola joined Brighton from Hellas Verona in 2025 but found opportunities difficult to come by during his first season in England. His move to Paris FC in January changed that, allowing him to establish himself as a regular starter and convince the French club to make the transfer permanent.

Securing Coppola had become a priority for Liam Rosenior, who identified the 22-year-old as one of the key pieces in his plans ahead of Paris FC's return to Ligue 1.

The Italian's composure in possession, aerial strength and ability to play out from the back made him one of the standout performers during his loan spell, leaving little doubt inside the club that they wanted him back on a long-term deal.

Paris FC moved quickly once the transfer window opened, and after several rounds of negotiations have now reached an agreement with Brighton.

From Brighton's perspective, the deal represents a sizeable return on a player who struggled to establish himself in the Premier League.

Rather than sanctioning another temporary move, the Seagulls have opted for a permanent sale, banking a significant fee while giving Coppola the opportunity to continue his development in an environment where he is already settled.

It also creates room for Brighton to continue reshaping their squad ahead of the new campaign.

With the agreement now in place, Coppola is expected to complete the remaining formalities before being officially unveiled by Paris FC. The move gives Rosenior another important addition ahead of the club's Ligue 1 campaign, while Brighton can now turn their attention to further business before the transfer window closes.

Was selling Diego Coppola the right decision for Brighton, or should the Seagulls have given the defender another chance in the Premier League?