Brighton signs Brazilian defender Igor Julio from Fiorentina ahead of European campaign
Fiorentina's Igor Julio runs with the ball during the Serie A soccer match between U.S Lecce vs ACF Fiorentina at Via del Mare Stadium, Lecce, Italy, on Oct. 17, 2022. Brazilian defender Igor Julio has completed his move to Brighton from Fiorentina. The English Premier League club said the 25-year-old Igor signed a four-year deal and will start training with his teammates next week when they return from the United States. Credit: AP/Giovanni Evangelista
BRIGHTON, England — Brazilian defender Igor Julio completed his move to Brighton from Fiorentina on Wednesday.
The Premier League club said the 25-year-old Igor signed a four-year deal and will start training with his teammates next week when they return from the United States.
The value of the transfer was not disclosed but British media reported it was about 15 million pounds ($19 million).
Igor joins Brighton after a club-best sixth-place finish in the Premier League, earning the team a first entry into European competition.
Brighton’s place in the group stage of the Europa League was confirmed by UEFA only this month. Owner Tony Bloom had to reduce his stake in Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise — which also qualified for the Europa League — to comply with UEFA rules on multi-club ownership designed to protect the integrity of games and transfers.
Igor helped Fiorentina to the final of the Europa Conference League last season, where the Italian team lost to West Ham. Fiorentina also lost in the Italian Cup final.
The defender came to Europe through the Red Bull multi-club system, leaving its youth setup in Brazil to join Austrian champion Salzburg.
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