Brighton and Hove Albion sign Diego Coppola from Hellas Verona

Brighton and Hove Albion have completed the signing of Hellas Verona centre-back Diego Coppola for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the Seagulls, keeping him at the club until 2030.

Coppola in action at Euro under 21's. Photo by Tullio Puglia - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Coppola, a promising young defender who earned his first two senior Italy caps earlier this month, had also been linked with a move to Juventus.

A product of Verona's academy, Coppola made 81 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring four goals.

He is currently representing Italy at the European U21 Championships in Slovakia, where the team has won its first two group stage matches against the host nation and Romania. They face Spain later today.

Speaking to Brighton's official website, head coach Fabian Hürzeler praised his new signing.

He said: "Although he is still young, he is tall, strong, and mobile, and he will give us a real physical presence.
He has made impressive progress in Serie A and deserved his call-up to the Italian national team."

Coppola becomes Brighton's second signing of the summer, following the £29.8 million arrival of teenage forward Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiakos.