Brighton Triggers Rutter's £40m Release Clause

Brighton have activated the £40m release clause for Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter, making them the only club to do so before the Thursday deadline of 00:00 BST, Sky Sports reported. Rutter has four years left on his contract with Leeds, whom he joined from Hoffenheim in January 2023 for a club-record deal that could rise to £35m.

Previously, Leeds turned down multiple bids, but the decision is now in the player's hands. While Brighton is the sole club to meet the clause, Leeds are eager to retain Rutter, having already transferred Archie Gray to Tottenham and Crysencio Summerville to West Ham this summer.

On Wednesday night, Rutter played 28 minutes in a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Middlesbrough at Elland Road. The 22-year-old's performance last season included scoring eight goals and providing 16 assists over 51 appearances, yet Leeds missed out on returning to the Premier League immediately after their relegation.

Reportedly, Rutter has verbally agreed to join Brighton imminently. A medical examination could happen within the next 48 hours. Should the transfer proceed, it would mark a record transaction for a Championship club not newly relegated and bring the total count of Brighton's summer signings to six under new head coach Fabian Hurzeler.

Just recently, Brighton announced the addition of Brajan Gruda from Mainz in a £25m deal, complementing other newcomers like Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, Ibrahim Osman, Malick Junior Yalcouyé, and Amario Cozier-Duberry.

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