Diego Gomez has confirmed that he will join Brighton in the January transfer window from MLS club Inter Miami.
The midfielder spoke to sports reporters as he arrived in Asuncion on Sunday night ahead of Paraguay taking on Uruguay and Brazil in World Cup qualifiers over the international break.
One of the subjects briefly discussed was his future. The Albion were first linked with Gomez at the start of the summer, since when Gomez has done nothing to quell the rumours.
If anything, he has only served to encourage them. Most notably when using a post-game interview in July after Inter Miami defeated Toronto to exclusively reveal his agent was in talks with Brighton.
“My agent is speaking to Inter Miami and Brighton & Hove Albion,” said Gomez, whilst wearing full Inter tracksuit stood in front of an Inter Miami backdrop.
“I came here to make the jump to Europe. I hope it happens and whatever God wants,” he added. One can only imagine the reaction of Brighton supporters if Joao Pedro spoke one hour after scoring and assisting against Wolves to say he hoped his agent would sort out a move to Manchester City soon.
Six weeks later and Gomez has now said the transfer is all-but done. “It’s a dream come true for me and all of my family who have always supported me,” he said.
“I was talking already with Julio Enciso, I’m always watching Brighton games. I love watching the Premier League.”
Diego Gomez has confirmed that he will join Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2025.
“It’s a dream come true for me and all of my family who have always supported me. I was talking already with Julio Enciso, I’m always watching #BHAFC games. I love watching the Premier League.” https://t.co/MfDJnCKDiM
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) September 2, 2024
Gomez is not the first Parguayan signed by Brighton to break the news of his transfer before any sort of confirmation from the clubs involved.
Julio Enciso infamously appeared live from Brighton Marina on Paraguay’s version of Loose Women with an Albion shirt laid on the table in front of him.
Reports suggest Brighton will pay around £14 million for Gomez. It will make him the second-most expensive signing ever from an MLS club after Miguel Almiron.
The Albion opened the bidding at £7 million in June. Inter Miami were said to value Gomez at anywhere between £17 million and £25 million.
Securing the signature of Gomez may explain why Brighton sanctioned the sale of Billy Gilmour on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Gilmour was allowed to join Napoli despite the Albion looking light in midfield. Matt O’Riley requires surgery on his ankle, whilst other new signings Brajan Gruda and Ferdi Kadıoglu are also injured.
Knowing Brighton would have further reinforcements arriving on January 1st will have made letting Gilmour go more palatable.
Gomez will hope to leave Miami with more silverware to go with the Leagues Cup won last season.
Inter Miami are currently top of MLS Eastern Conference. If they finish the regular season there, it will earn them the Supporters’ Shield.
The top nine clubs from the Eastern and Western Conference then compete in the playoffs to decide who wins the MLS Cup and the crown of overall champions.
Gomez has six goals and six assists in 20 appearances for Inter Miami so far.
