Why Brighton's 'really fantastic' £15m new signing was rated alongside Luis Diaz, Lionel Messi and Neymar

Brighton and Hove Albion have dipped in the transfer market to sign one of South America’s finest talents and a specialist in his position.

Pervis Estupinan, a Europa League winner with Villarreal in 2021, is also an Ecuador international and has represented his country 26 times.

He was a key part of the La Tri’s Copa America campaign in 2021 and helped his country reach the semi-finals.

Estupinan, 24, impressed on the left flank and was named in the Copa America Team of the Tournament, alongside the likes of Luis Diaz, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Team in full: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Mauricio Isla (Chile), Cristian Romero (Argentina), Marcos Aoas Correa (Brazil), Pervis Estupinan (Ecuador), Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina), Carlos Henrique Casimiro, known as Casemiro (Brazil), Yoshimar Yotun (Peru), Luis Diaz (Colombia) Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Neymar (Brazil).

The arrival of Estupinan is a key signing for Brighton and offers Graham Potter another option on the left flank, following the £60m exit of last season’s player of the year Marc Cucurella to Chelsea.

Estupinan, who previously signed for Watford in 2016 and had loan spells in Spain with Granada, Almeria, Mallorca and Osasuna, before joining Villarreal permanently in 2020, said: “I wanted to come and play in what I believe is the best league in the world so much and above all at Brighton.

"They have showed an incredible amount of interest in me, not just now but for quite a few years. I’m so happy to be here.”

The defender will also join his Ecuador teammates Moises Caicedo and Jeremy Sarmiento in Potter’s first team squad and all three are set to feature for their country at the Qatar World Cup later this year.

“This is very important – to be playing for an English team but to have two Ecuadorian teammates,” Estupinan added. “It will help me a lot.

"I played with them for Ecuador so I know how they play. This will help me to feel good out on the pitch on a daily basis.

“They have both already sent me a message saying that they are here for me for whatever I need.

"I think that it’s really important to have compatriots here. When they invite me to eat spectacular [Ecuadorian] food with them I’ll make sure I’m around!"

The Ecuadorian could even be involved in the matchday squad this Sunday as Albion travel to West Ham for their third Premier League match of the new season.

“I am prepared,” he said. “I had a good season at my club before and I am ready for whatever the head coach says.

“I am going to try and defend this shirt in the same way I have at the other clubs I have played at – I won’t let them down. I am going to fight for every ball as if it’s the last.”