Brighton exit ‘almost certain’ to be made permanent – Everyone in agreement

Brajan Gruda’s return to RB Leipzig from Brighton and Hove Albion will include a clause that is ‘almost certain’ to be triggered next season.

Journalist Phillipp Hinze reports on the midfielder’s loan return to Leipzig today and the specifics of the purchase obligation which has been included in the deal.

Gruda deal close to completion

Hinze reported yesterday that Brajan Gruda was on the verge of returning to Leipzig this summer after his successful loan spell there last season. Brighton have reached an agreement with the German side for a second loan with a purchase agreement.

The details for that purchase agreement were not initially revealed. Now Hinze provides those details.

He reports that the mandatory buy-out clause agreed between Brighton and Leipzig is almost certain to be triggered.

The condition is based on a ‘very small number of competitive appearances’. This would then trigger a permanent transfer fee of €25-30m, depending on success. Bonus payments are included that.

The two clubs are in total agreement on the transfer. And Gruda is in total agreement with Leipzig as well. The transfer is going ahead according to Hinze.

Leipzig deal suits

That’s worked out for Leipzig, who had never budgeted for a permanent transfer this summer. They wanted Brajan Gruda to return this summer following his loan spell, but a permanent deal was not budgeted for.

The Bundesliga have gotten around this in the accounts by arranging a loan with a very realistic obligation to buy included in the deal.

Now the deal appears to be in the final stages. Gruda will be extending his loan deal into a second season following the successful loan deal from January last season. And at the end of it, Brighton are likely to recover much of the €31.5m they paid in 2024 for the 22-year-old and bring his unsuccessful spell with the Seagulls to a permanent end.