Brighton signs Italy defender Diego Coppola from Verona

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed 21-year-old Italian defender Diego Coppola from Hellas Verona on a five-year contract for a reported fee of around £9 million. Coppola, who has made over 80 appearances for Verona and debuted for Italy's senior national team in 2025, is praised by Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler for his physical presence, mobility, and impressive progress in Serie A. The centre-back was a standout defender in the 2024/25 Serie A season, leading Europe’s top five leagues in interceptions and ranking highly in aerial duels and clearances. Coppola is expected to compete for a starting position alongside Brighton’s other defenders as the club continues to refresh its defense with recent signings including Tom Watson, Yoon Do-young, Charalampos Kostoulas, and Olivier Boscagli. He will also continue his international duties with Italy's Under-21 team at the European Championships before joining Brighton for pre-season preparations. The signing reflects Brighton’s ambition to strengthen their squad depth and defensive capabilities following injury challenges to key players last season.