Two signings in one day
More than 400 million pounds moved through English clubs on deadline day, and that figure leaves out loans and undisclosed fees. Brighton accounted for about 35 million of it.
Both deals landed on Tuesday. Femi Azeez arrived from Millwall, Chema Andres from Stuttgart. Opta Analyst ranks the pair among the seven best bits of business done across the whole day.
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Azeez, Championship’s top crosser
The reported fee for Azeez starts at 12.5 million pounds and could rise to 15. Brighton had been tracking him for months.
He arrives after two full seasons at Millwall. In the Championship last season, he finished first for crosses from open play with 227, and first for expected assists from crosses with 6.71. He also ended up fourth for attempted dribbles (131), sixth for chances created from open play (58) and ninth for shots (95).
The output matched the volume. Only two players in the division created more big chances than his 18. His 9.12 xA from just seven assists says it all: his team-mates simply did not finish the job.
Chema Andres brought in to cover Baleba
The second deal cost 20 million pounds. Chema Andres is 21, came through Real Madrid’s academy and had spent just one season at Stuttgart.
He has been signed to fill the hole left by Carlos Baleba, who has moved to Manchester United. The profile is different. The Cameroon international drives forward; the Spaniard reads the game.
Since the start of last season, among Bundesliga midfielders with at least 900 minutes, Chema Andres ranks second for interceptions per 90 minutes (2.3). He leads that same group for aerial duels contested (6.4) and won (3.6). He sits tenth for ball recoveries (5.6).
Brighton at it again
Brighton buy young, buy on data and shop in undervalued leagues. Millwall and Stuttgart fit the bill.
The club has not replaced Baleba with a player of the same headline appeal. It has taken two complementary types for less than what Manchester City paid for Iliman Ndiaye alone.
Whether Azeez can make the jump is another matter. Championship to Premier League is a step that exposes more players than it improves.
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