De Zerbi confirms Mahmoud Dahoud will join Brighton this summer

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that the club is set to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud this summer.

The Germany international has fallen out of favour at Signal Iduna Park and will move on when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Dortmund tried to extend Dahoud’s contract in February, but the former Borussia Monchengladbach man refused to sign a new deal, with playing time hard to come by under Edin Terzic.

The 27-year-old has endured his fair share of injury problems this season but, even when fit, has struggled for game time after falling down the pecking order.

Dahoud has only managed ten appearances across all competitions this term, so it is no surprise he has opted to leave the club at the end of the season.

He has not made the matchday squad since the 3-3 draw against VfB Stuttgart, with his last involvement coming in the 4-2 defeat to Bayern Munich at the start of April.

Dahoud had reportedly undergone medical checks ahead of a move to a Premier League club. It has now been confirmed that he will join Brighton with De Zerbi all but confirming the transfer.

“I know very well Dahoud, but it’s not official at the moment,” said De Zerbi (via Sky Sports) at his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s trip to Newcastle United.

When pressed further on the arrival of the German, De Zerbi revealed that he is keen to bring Dahoud to the Premier League and excited at the prospect of adding him to his squad.

“Yes, because it is not a secret that I like him, and I would like to work with him,” he added.

Dahoud joined Dortmund from Monchengladbach in 2017 and has made 141 appearances for Der BVB, contributing five goals and 17 assists.

Brighton are expected to lose Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo this summer with no shortage of interest from the Premier League, and Dahoud could prove a shrewd acquisition for the Seagulls.