Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma subject of €65m approach from Al Nassr

Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr have approached Brighton & Hove Albion with a formal offer to recruit winger Kaoru Mitoma.

The proposal submitted to the Premier League side for Japan international Mitoma is worth €65million but has been formally rejected.

Al Nassr are working to complete the signing of striker Jhon Duran from Aston Villa and have made Mitoma, 27, the top target to fulfil their aim of bolstering in the wide attacking areas.

Mitoma last signed a new contract at Brighton in October 2023 and is under contract until June 2027.

He joined the English team from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in 2021 and spent the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Union Saint-Gilloise, the Belgian club which shares a majority owner with Brighton.

After scoring eight goals in 29 appearances for USG, Mitoma returned to Brighton for the 2022-23 season and registered 10 goals and eight assists in 41 games. Last term, Mitoma struggled with injuries and played only 19 times in the Premier League.

This season, Mitoma has featured in every league game for Fabian Hurzeler’s side and has five goals and three assists in those 23 games.

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Brighton are next in action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Striker Evan Ferguson is also attracting interest and Brighton are open to the 20-year-old’s permanent departure.

Al Nassr, meanwhile, are fourth in the Saudi Pro League, eight points behind leaders Al Hilal. Stefano Pioli’s squad contains several names familiar to followers of European football, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane.

How likely is it Brighton consider selling Mitoma?

Analysis from Brighton correspondent Andy Naylor

Brighton’s policy on sales remains consistent. Both the price and the circumstances have to be right for them.

If both of those criteria are not met, they will not do business.

For example, Arsenal made several attempts to buy Moises Caicedo in the January 2023 transfer window.

Brighton resisted, because the bids were too low and they did not want to lose the midfielder during the season. Caicedo went to Chelsea that summer for a British record fee of £115m.

Brighton still have aspirations to qualify for Europe this season and Mitoma is their No 1 left-winger, with no supporting depth.

They would not countenance losing him in January, especially so close to the end of the window, unless it was a mind-blowing sum. The summer could be different.

(Gareth Copley/Getty Images)