Brighton & Hove Albion have signed midfielder Chema Andres from Stuttgart for a fee of £15.5 million. The 21-year-old Spaniard has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, as confirmed by BBC Sport this week.
This move is Brighton's 11th of a busy summer, which includes their club-record £45 million capture of Luka Vuskovic. The Seagulls currently sit ninth in the Premier League with three points from their opening two matches, a position they will aim to strengthen ahead of their next fixtures against Leeds United at home on Saturday.
Who is Chema Andres?
Chema Andres is a product of Real Madrid's famed La Fabrica academy, having worked under coaches like Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, and Raul. He made his La Liga debut for Los Blancos in January 2025, appearing three times for the first team before a €5 million move to Stuttgart last summer. In his sole season in Germany, he made 41 total appearances, featuring 26 times in the Bundesliga and nine times in the Europa League as Stuttgart reached the last 16. He scored three goals and provided one assist, helping the club qualify for the Champions League.
His style has drawn comparisons to Manchester City's Rodri, but Andres is quick to downplay them. "Those comparisons come from you guys (journalists), they’re more about our physical profile because he’s still miles ahead," Andres said. "Hopefully, one day I can reach his level. They don’t affect me at all." He describes himself as a cheerful and humble character who gets on well with teammates, preferring a low-key approach to the stereotypical footballer lifestyle.
How does he fit into the Brighton squad?
Andres arrives as Brighton manage a midfield reshuffle following the £70 million sale of Carlos Baleba to Manchester United. Pascal Gross and Yasin Ayari have been the first-choice pairing, with Olivier Boscagli operating as the defensive No. 6. Ayari is out of contract next summer, adding longer-term uncertainty. The injury to converted right-back Mats Wieffer, sustained in the 4-3 defeat at Chelsea, also impacts midfield options. Andres, with his experience in a top European league, provides immediate depth and competition. You can view the full midfield options on the club's squad page.
What other business is Brighton doing?
The Andres deal is not the only activity at the Amex. Brighton have agreed a deal to sign 25-year-old Nigeria winger Femi Azeez from Millwall. The initial fee is £12.5 million, potentially rising past £15m with add-ons, which would represent a club-record sale for Millwall. Azeez scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 37 games last season after joining from Reading for about £1 million in 2024. He is entering the final two years of his contract. Meanwhile, winger Yankuba Minteh has been linked with a move to Liverpool.
Funds have been raised through significant sales like Baleba's, allowing for this sustained investment. In other squad news, young attacker Amario Cozier-Duberry has signed a new contract and will depart on a loan spell.
What is the context of Brighton's season?
Brighton's summer spending is set against the backdrop of an eventful start to the 2026-27 campaign. They have scored seven goals but conceded four in their two league outings, resulting in a positive goal difference of three. They are three points behind early leaders Manchester City in the title race. Their next challenge is a home match against Leeds United, who sit one place above them in eighth, on September 5th. The current standings show a tightly packed upper mid-table. Chema Andres has signed a contract that runs until the summer of 2031.
