Ansu Fati joins Brighton on season-long mortgage from Barcelona

BRIGHTON, England — Ansu Fati, as soon as billed as Lionel Messi’s successor at Barcelona, will play on mortgage at Brighton this season.

The 20-year-old Spain ahead, who hadn’t been used as a daily starter below Barcelona coach Xavi, signed with the Premier League membership on Friday.

“This is a great deal for all of us,” Brighton supervisor Roberto De Zerbi mentioned. ”I’m certain Ansu will assist us to achieve a brand new goal and we may help him get again on the stage he deserves to be.”

Financial phrases weren’t disclosed.

Fati has made greater than 110 appearances for Barcelona since debuting at age 16 in August 2019. He later grew to become the membership’s youngest goalscorer in each La Liga and the Champions League.

He recurrently got here off the bench for Xavi, who within the final two video games has opted to start out 16-year-old Lamine Yamal.

Brighton additionally performs within the Europa League this season and the staff will lean on Fati‘s expertise.

“Ansu is one of the most highly rated young players in the world and arrives with an impressive amount of experience both domestically and in European competition, despite his age,” Brighton technical director David Weir mentioned. “This season is the biggest in the club’s history and we’re really happy that a player of Ansu’s quality is going to be part of it.”

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