Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly held a meeting over a possible move for Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, adding another young centre-back to Fabian Hurzeler’s summer watchlist.
Gianluca Di Marzio reports that a Brighton delegation has been in Milan for talks, with the 18-year-old Atalanta defender one of the names discussed. The report also notes that no easy route is expected, with Atalanta reluctant to lose a player they only signed from Genoa last summer.
The interest follows a clear recruitment pattern. Brighton have already been active in the defensive market, with recent Brighton transfer news centred on succession planning after Jan Paul van Hecke’s exit and continued attention on high-upside centre-backs.
Atalanta Position Keeps Ahanor Deal Difficult
Ahanor’s profile explains why Albion are looking. Football Italia states that Atalanta paid EUR20m to sign him as a 17-year-old and that he made 35 appearances across all competitions in 2025/26, including 22 in Serie A and nine in the Champions League.
That senior exposure, combined with his age and left-footed defensive profile, makes this exactly the sort of ambitious market play Brighton have built their reputation around. But the timing is awkward: Atalanta are already set for major sales involving Marco Palestra and Ederson, reducing pressure to accept another significant departure.
For now, this looks more like an exploratory move than an advanced negotiation. Still, Brighton’s presence in Milan is a useful signal: the club are not waiting for the market to thin before testing elite European development pathways.
Recent reports claim that Brighton are interested in a potential deal for Atalanta and Italy U21 talent Honest Ahanor.
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) June 25, 2026
