Brighton & Hove Albion have turned down a £54 million (€65m) bid from Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr for winger Kaoru Mitoma, making it clear that the Japan international is not for sale.
Al Nassr’s pursuit of Mitoma comes shortly after the Saudi Pro League side agreed a £64m deal to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran. The club has until 8:59 PM (UK and Irish time) on Friday, when the Saudi transfer window closes, to complete any further signings.
The move is part of a shift in strategy by Saudi clubs, aiming to attract and develop younger talent rather than serving as a destination for aging superstars. With Cristiano Ronaldo already in their ranks, Al Nassr are now looking to bring another Premier League player into their squad.
Mitoma, 27, joined Brighton from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in 2021 for a reported £2.7m. He spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise before making his debut for Brighton in August 2022. Since then, he has been a key player for the Seagulls, making 92 appearances in all competitions and scoring 18 goals.
This season, Mitoma has been ever-present for Brighton under manager Fabian Hürzeler, featuring in all 23 Premier League matches and scoring five goals. Despite Al Nassr’s strong interest, Brighton remain firm in their stance that he is not available for transfer.
