Brighton are set to complete £8m deal for Boca Juniors wonderkid Valentin Barco after beating Manchester City in the race to sign the 19-year-old
- Brighton are close to completing the signing of the Argentina youth international
- 19-year-old defender Barco played 35 games for Boca Juniors
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Brighton will complete the £7.8million signing of Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco once he undergoes medical treatment in Argentina.
The highly rated 19-year-old, who can also play as a winger, is part of the Argentina Under-23 squad. He has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, with an option for a further twelve months.
Manchester City are said to have expressed an interest in hijacking the Seagulls’ move for the youngster, a regular at Boca Juniors, before Brighton sealed the deal.
Brighton will complete the £7.8m signing of Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco once he undergoes medical treatment
The Seagulls’ scouting network in America has helped them bring in numerous emerging talents over the years.
Their status as a club in Europe that can still offer a clear path to the first team is attractive.
In the summer they sold Moises Caicedo – recruited straight from Ecuador – to Chelsea for a British record £115 million.
Barco has made 35 appearances for Boca Juniors since joining the first team in 2021 and was involved in the 2-1 defeat to Fluminense in the Copa Libertadores final in November.
Meanwhile, Brighton midfielder Jensen Weir, 21, has been loaned out to League One side Port Vale for the remainder of the season.
It comes just days after Seagulls goalkeeper James Beadle moved to Sheffield Wednesday on loan until the end of the season.
Beadle, 19, spent the first half of the season on loan at Oxford United and was impressive in their promotion from League One before being recalled.