Brighton sign £9m Bernardo from Red Bull Leipzig
Brighton and Hove Albion have splashed the cash to complete their fourth signing of the summer, bringing in full back Bernardo from Red Bull Leipzig for £9m.
The 23-year-old becomes the first Brazilian player to represent the Albion, bolstering a back line that was in need of reinforcements following the departure of Connor Goldson to Rangers and Uwe Hunemeier’s return to Germany with Padeborn. He can also be deployed in central midfield.
Bernardo began his career with Red Bull Brasil in his home country for whom he played three times before making the move to Europe as a 21-year-old, joining Red Bull Salzburg.
After 16 appearances and one goal for Die Roten Bullen in their successful 2015-16 campaign in which they lifted both the Austrian Bundesliga title and the Austrian Cup, he moved onto Red Bull Leipzig for £3.4m in August 2016.
He played 40 times in his two seasons with (the other) Die Roten Bullen, helping the side to finish runners up in the Bundesliga in 2016-17 and playing Champions League football last season as a result.
It’s hard to know where he will be used by the Albion given his versatility, but with Chris Hughton talking up his ability as a full back you suspect either right or left back will be his position given that we look a little lacking in quality in those areas.
On the right, Bruno may have signed a new contract as recently as March but he isn’t getting any younger after all and Ezequiel Schelotto has all the consistency of a pint of Harvey’s while Gaetan Bong and Markus Suttner may be solid professionals on the left, but you’d have to question if both have the ability to help the Albion kick on for their second season in the Premier League.
At 23, Bernardo should have the best years of his career ahead of him and plenty of time to achieve the ultimate aim for any player which would be a move to New York Red Bulls to become the first player to complete the grand slam of Red Bull owned clubs.
