Marc Cucurella, a defender from Spain, has been acquired by Chelsea from Brighton for more than £60 million.
The 24-year-old left back has agreed to a six-year contract. In his only season with the Seagulls, he played in 38 games and scored one goal.
It surpasses Ben White’s £50 million move to Arsenal last summer as the highest-ever sale for Brighton.
Cucurella, a product of the Barcelona academy, has one senior cap for Spain and participated in the under-23 squad that took home silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Cucurella submitted a transfer request after Manchester City displayed interest in him, and Brighton rejected a £30 million offer from the league leaders last month.
Cucurella is Brighton’s second high-profile departure this summer after midfielder Yves Bissouma, who left for Tottenham for £25 million plus add-ons, left.
Raheem Sterling of England was acquired by Chelsea from Manchester City for £50 million, Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal was acquired from Napoli for £34 million, and Carney Chukwuemeka of Aston Villa was acquired for £20 million.
Gabriel Slonina, an American goalkeeper who is 18 years old, was also acquired by them for a reported £12 million from Chicago Fire. He will stay with them on loan through the end of the Major League Soccer season.
We did not want to lose Marc, but he wanted the opportunity of playing Champions League football with a view to accelerating his progress to Spain’s World Cup squad,” said Brighton manager Graham Potter.
“He had an excellent first season in the Premier League, deservedly winning both our player of the season awards, and has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the past 12 months.”
“Marc is an elite defender of proven Premier League quality,” said Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly.
“We continue to work on and off the pitch, and we’re delighted Marc will be a part of the present and future at Chelsea.”
