Lille to retain 15% sell-on clause in departure of Carlos Baleba to Brighton | OneFootball

Premier League side Brighton have now reached a total agreement with Ligue 1 side Lille to sign 19-year-old midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to our colleagues at L’Équipe.

Baleba will arrive in the United Kingdom on Monday for his medical with Brighton. He is expected to sign his contract on Tuesday. The transfer will bring in €27m excluding bonuses for Lille.

Carlos Baleba will soon be a Seagull. Lille and the English club have agreed on a transfer fee of €27m + €3m in bonuses, as well as a 15% sell-on percentage fee clause on future profit made by Brighton when they sell him on. Seduced by the prospect of playing under the orders of Roberto de Zerbi, the 19-year-old midfielder, who arrived in Lille in January 2022, should put pen to paper on a contract on Tuesday for five seasons. He will have the big task of being the successor in the south of England to Moises Caicedo, who left for Chelsea for €133m.

Although the first contacts began several months ago, the English club accelerated conversations a fortnight ago, making a first offer of €17m + €3m in bonuses. This was rebuffed. He then made a second, slightly higher bid, last week, again seen as insufficient by LOSC who were expecting more than €30m in order to let go of the Cameroonian talent. Last Monday, Brighton made a third offer of €25m and €5m bonus and a percentage sell-on fee clause. Not enough to convince Lille but enough to start serious negotiations. Which therefore came to a conclusion on Monday.

GFFN | James Thorpe