Revealed: Chelsea & Man City lose race for Argentina wonderkid

Cameron Smith

• 9 Jan 2024 10:39 CST
• 3 min read

Boca Juniors and Argentina youngster Valentin Barco is on the verge of completing a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, according to multiple reports.

The 19-year-old left-back is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in South America, and Brighton have beaten Chelsea and Manchester City to his signature.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that Barco will undergo a medical in Argentina before completing a €9.2 million transfer to Brighton after the Seagulls triggered the release clause in his Boca Juniors contract.

It’s understood that Barco will sign a four-and-a-half year contract at the AMEX Stadium, with the option of a further 12 months. Barco will complete his medical in Argentina as he is currently on international duty with his country’s U23 side.

Fabrizio Romano has also given the transfer his famous ‘here we go’ stamp of approval, with Barco set to become the latest South American talent to join Brighton.

His countryman Alexis Mac Allister enjoyed a fruitful spell at the south coast club before joining Liverpool last summer, and Moises Caicedo also joined Brighton from South America.

Pervis Estupinan (Ecuador), Julio Enciso (Paraguay), Igor Julio (Brazil), Joao Pedro (Brazil) and Facundo Buonanotte (Argentina) make up Brighton’s current South American contingent, while Ecuadorian Jeremy Sarmiento is on loan at Championship side Ipswich Town.

Brighton beat Chelsea and Man City to sign Valentin Barco

Signing Barco is a huge coup for Brighton given the fact that Chelsea and Man City were both heavily linked with a move for the Argentine teenager.

Pep Guardiola is a known admirer of Barco, while FootballTransfers understand that the 19-year-old visited Man City’s training facilities in 2023 as the reigning Premier League champions attempted to convince him to join the club.

Chelsea were also keen on landing the left-back, but Brighton have won the race to sign him, with their interest dating back to last summer.