Brighton have completed the £16 million signing of winger Ibrahim Osman from Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjaelland… nine days after the January 2024 transfer window slammed shut.
The somewhat strange timing of the deal allows 19-year-old Osman to see out the campaign with Nordsjaelland as they try and go one better than their runners up finish last season. The Tigers currently trail leaders FC Midtjylland by nine points in the standings.
Brighton have only paid a fee for a teenager larger than the £16 million lavished on Osman once before, when signing Carlos Baleba in the summer for £25 million.
And it is easy to say why the Albion were willing to fork out such a large amount to secure his services. Since making his professional debut last February, Osman has become one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe thanks to his electrifying performances across the front line.
His versatility is arguably his strongest suit, capable of playing down both wings and as a central striker. Brighton do not possess a player who can comfortably fulfil all three positions, other than Ansu Fati and his stay at the Amex is unlikely to extend beyond the summer.
From 39 appearances career appearances for Nordsjaelland so far, Osman has scored four goals and claimed five assists across Superliga, Champions League qualifiers, Europa League and the Danish Cup.
Comparisons with Simon Adingra are inevitable. Like Adingra, Osman ended up at Nordsjaelland through the club being owned by the Right to Dream Academy.
Founded in Ghana by former Manchester United scout Tom Vernon in 1999, Right to Dream aims to discover and develop the best young talent in Africa.
Those with the potential to make it in Europe then join Nordsjaelland. The Tigers benefit from a direct link to players with superstar potential, whilst the players have a shop window into Europe.
Adingra made the exact same journey from Africa to Brighton via Nordsjaelland. Mohammed Kudus almost did likewise. The midfielder left Nordsjaelland for Ajax, to whom West Ham United paid £40 million for his services in the summer to snare Kudus from under the Albion’s nose.
With West Ham having been in negotiations over Osman during the January transfer window, the boot is on the other foot this time around.
The Hammers were unable to get a deal over the line and had hoped to return for Ibrahim Osman in the summer, only for Brighton to secure his services instead.
Whether Osman makes an immediate impact once he arrives in the summer remains to be seen. Adingra was sent to Union Saint-Gilloise on a season long loan to gain further fist team experience following his signing for £6 million in the summer of 2022.
A year in Belgium was also the pathway taken by Kaoru Mitoma the previous campaign. Neither of those players, however, cost anywhere near the £16 million Brighton have paid for Osman. It is the sort of price tag which induces expectations of Osman coming straight into the first team squad.
What happens with Osman may hinge on who Brighton lose in the summer transfer window. Mitoma has been linked with Barcelona, although if that deal does indeed end up being an unlikely swap for Fati then the Albion would not have lost any numbers in wide areas.
Should Mitoma be sold, Fati return to Spain and Solly March’s return from his ACL injury mean he is not fit for the start of the 2024-25 season, Osman may find himself pitched straight into Premier League action.
Whenever he does make his Albion bow, he looks like a name worth keeping an eye on.
