Brighton confirm latest transfer and '£50m' man set to arrive
All the latest transfer news for Brighton and Hove Albion and across the Premier League
Brighton confirmed the signing of defender Michael Svoboda from Serie B champions Venezia on a four-year contract, for a reported fee of around £5m.
The 27-year-old is currently on international duty with Austria at the World Cup and will link up with his new Albion teammates later in the summer.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler said, “Michael has enjoyed a fantastic season with Venezia, captaining them to the league title.
“He has a number of attributes that we believe will see him adapt well to how we play, both in and out of possession.
“He also adds competition to an area we are looking to strengthen and with a number of clubs pursuing him this summer, I am very happy that he’s decided to come to Brighton.”
The 27-year-old came through the youth ranks with Schwechat in his homeland, before joining WSG Tirol, where he won promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga.
He signed for Venezia in 2020, winning promotion from Serie B in 2021 and 2026.
Last season he proved invaluable, starting his first game of the league campaign in matchweek ten with Venezia sat in eighth spot.
They would lose only two more games during the season, with Svoboda starting all but one of the matches in that run as they finished a point ahead of second place Frosinone.
Svoboda made his national team debut in October 2024 and has four caps to his name.
Brighton bolster defence
Svoboda arrives swiftly after Brighton completed the £18m signing of centre back Pascal Struijk from Leeds. Brighton are also set to smash their transfer record with a £50m deal for Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic.
Earlier this window, Brighton sold defender Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham for £52m and experienced centre back Adam Webster left after his contract expired.
Brazilian defender Igor Julio is also set to depart this window.