Brighton & Hove Albion have sent summer signing Rodrigo Rego to Spanish second-tier club Castellón on a season-long loan.
The 21-year-old only joined Albion from Benfica earlier in the transfer window, signing a five-year contract after making five senior appearances for the Portuguese club.
Brighton have now moved quickly to secure regular first-team football for the winger. The club officially confirmed Rego’s temporary departure, with sporting director Mike Cave stressing that Albion have high hopes for the Portugal youth international.
Rego will spend the full 2026/27 campaign with Castellón, who compete in La Liga 2.
Rego handed important Brighton development opportunity
Rego progressed through the academies of Porto and Famalicão before joining Benfica in 2023.
He made his Champions League debut as a substitute during a 2-0 win over Ajax last November. His first league start followed four days later against Nacional.
Brighton secured Rego on a long-term agreement but have decided his development will be better served through regular senior minutes in Spain.
The winger would have faced significant competition for opportunities under Fabian Hürzeler. Albion already have several established wide players available, while their Conference League schedule will place further demands on the squad.
A successful campaign with Castellón could leave Rego ready to compete for a first-team position when he returns to Sussex next summer.
As Read Brighton reported when his signing was completed, the transfer was always viewed as a long-term development move rather than an immediate solution for Hürzeler.
Albion’s recruitment model has regularly combined early investment with carefully selected loans. Rego now has an opportunity to prove himself in senior football while Brighton closely monitor his progress.
