The January transfer window has already seen a lot of moves in the Premier League, with teams seizing the chance to bolster their squads. Valentin Barco is the first such signing reported to have been made by Premier League clubs Brighton and Hove Albion.
The club are renowned for bringing out some of the biggest talents in recent years and selling many of their stars for big money, such as Moises Caicedo to Chelsea. And now they are focusing on the future as well, and they have made a very bold decision.
Who is Valentin Barco?
Valentin Barco is going to move to Brighton, as many sources have already confirmed. He is a 19-year-old teenager from Argentina who currently plays for their biggest club, Boca Juniors. He is a very versatile player, and while he is dominantly a left back, he can also play as a left winger or left midfielder. So he is both versatile and young, and this makes him a very smart signing for anyone.
Both Manchester City and Chelsea were interested in him as well, but in the end, he chose to join Brighton for more playing time. He started his career at the age of three in his hometown, and only at nine did he make the big move to Boca Juniors. He debuted at the age of 16 in 2021, and his first goal was in 2022. In total, he has made 35 appearances for the Giants.
Not just at club level, but he is also a sensation on the international stage. He has already represented Argentina at the U15, U20, and U23 levels. Currently, he is part of the U23 team that is preparing for the upcoming Olympic qualifying stage. He is widely considered one of Argentina’s biggest youth talents.
Barco set for Premier League move with Brighton
Brighton decided to activate the $10 million release clause in the contract of Valentin Barco at Boca Juniors. It is reported that the money has already been paid to the club, and the transfer has been finalized. If they had delayed the signing by another week, the release clause would have risen to $14 million.
Furthermore, the player has already signed his contract with Brighton, which is a four-and-a-half-year deal. There will be an option to extend it for one more year. He has already done his medicals as well, and he will soon be presented as one of their players.
It is not yet confirmed when he will join their squad, as he will be busy for the pre-Olympic tournament, but Brighton fans will already be happy to welcome another talented player to their ranks.
