Brighton complete club record £40m deal for France U21 starlet Georginio Rutter with the former Leeds forward penning a five-year contract at the Seagulls

Brighton have completed the signing of Leeds forward Georginio Rutter, the Premier League club have announced.

The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Seagulls after moving for a reported club record £40million fee. 

The France Under-21 international scored eight goals and contributed a further 16 assists last season for Leeds, whom he joined from Hoffenheim in January last year.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said: ‘Georginio is a player who has the capabilities to get fans off their seats and really showed what he can do in English football with Leeds last season, but I have known about him since he played in Germany for Hoffenheim.

‘Now we have to integrate him into the team. We’re looking forward to working with him.’

Fabian Hurzeler’s side have splashed £40million on the French under 21 international forward

Rutter starred for Leeds last season with right goals and 16 assists for the Championship side

Rutter is Brighton’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window, joining the likes of Yankuba Minteh and Amario Cozier-Duberry on the South Coast. 

He came through the youth ranks at Rennes before breaking into their first team in 2020 and then moving to Hoffenheim the following year.

He was relegated from the Premier League with Leeds in 2023 but went on to shine for the club in the Championship last term.

Brighton technical director David Weir said: ‘Georginio is a player we have been looking at for a while.

‘He’s a strong technical player and one we are excited to bring to the club. We look forward to seeing him continue to develop with us.’

Brighton have already made a fast start to the Premier League campaign, beating 10-man Everton 3-0 on the road at Goodison Park to kickstart the Hurzeler era.