Napoli launch £25.6m bid as Brighton consider midfielder sale
Napoli Table £25.6m Offer for Brighton Midfielder Matt O’Riley
Napoli lead pursuit of Brighton midfielder
Brighton’s commitment to strategic recruitment and development continues to draw attention from Europe’s elite. According to Sky Sports, Napoli have made a formal offer of £25.6 million (€30 million) for Matt O’Riley, placing them at the front of a growing queue for the midfielder’s signature.
Negotiations are underway, with Brighton reportedly open to a deal if their valuation is met. While the club still consider O’Riley “an important part of their project,” the Seagulls are understood to be realistic about the financial opportunities presented by such bids.
Serie A clubs Atalanta and Roma are also tracking O’Riley, with the latter’s new manager Gian Piero Gasperini a long-term admirer. But Napoli are in pole position, pending the sale of André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia.
Premier League midfield reshuffle continues
Napoli’s midfield now includes familiar Premier League names in Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne, with Stanislav Lobotka still part of the rotation. O’Riley would add depth and flexibility to a squad looking to retain domestic and European competitiveness.
For Brighton, the situation is delicate. Losing another key player to a European powerhouse may be seen as inevitable, yet it still stings for a club striving to establish a lasting top-flight presence.
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For Brighton fans, this is yet another frustrating reminder of the club’s place in the football food chain. Matt O’Riley represents everything Brighton have done right in recent years — smart scouting, patient development, and a clear tactical role within a progressive system. But if he’s sold now, it’ll feel like another promising chapter ripped from the book just as it was getting interesting.
The timing is particularly painful. After a season of inconsistency, what the team needs is stability, not more turnover. O’Riley offers a rare mix of vision and control, someone who can dictate the tempo in games where Brighton too often drifted. Watching him go to a Napoli midfield already packed with talent like De Bruyne and Lobotka will be a difficult pill to swallow.
Yes, £25.6 million is a significant sum, but how much is continuity worth? The club may benefit financially, but the cost to morale and progress could be far steeper. Fans want to build — not rebuild — every summer.
‘Negotiation’ – Julio Enciso is told to leave Brighton as contract enters final 12 months
Julio Enciso remains at the heart of transfer speculation as his contract with Brighton & Hove Albion enters its final year.
The 21-year-old Paraguayan attacking midfielder’s deal is set to expire in June 2026 and Inter Milan, FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon are among the clubs linked with the versatile star, who can play as a No 10 or winger.
Since joining Brighton from Club Libertad in 2022 for £9.5 million, Enciso has shown flashes of brilliance, scoring five goals and providing six assists in 57 appearances.
However, injuries, inconsistent form, and a loan spell at Ipswich Town in the 2024-25 season have brought uncertainty about his future.
Enciso’s loan to Ipswich, which began in January 2025, saw him contribute two goals and three assists in 13 appearances, including a stunning strike against Everton.
Despite his efforts, Ipswich were relegated to the Championship, which pretty much ended any chance of a permanent move to Portman Road.
Porto, Sporting and Inter Milan chase Enciso
Enciso’s camp is open to a move, with his agent Pedro Aldave stating, “Porto wanted to have him for the Club World Cup, but the negotiation was not easy.
“Julio needs a change of surroundings and he needs to play. Now we have gone into an impasse, but we will take it up again later.”
Sporting Lisbon, alongside two unnamed La Liga clubs, have also been in touch, according to reports.
Inter reportedly made tentative enquiries on a £25-30 million move, with journalist Rudy Galetti reporting, “Inter are following Julio Enciso as part of a plan to refresh their squad with younger players.”
