Brighton & Hove Albion have submitted a €34 million (£30 million) bid for Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, according to reports. The offer arrives after club representatives held preliminary meetings in Milan earlier this week, marking an escalation in the Premier League side’s pursuit of the 18-year-old Italy international.
Teenager’s rapid development
Ahanor has made 41 senior appearances for La Dea since joining from Genoa for €20 million last summer, a fee that made him the second-most expensive Italian 17-year-old at the time. The centre-back featured in nine Champions League matches and started 22 Serie A games during the 2025-26 campaign, earning his first senior caps for Italy in recent friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece.
Atalanta’s firm stance
The Serie A club are under no financial pressure to accept Brighton’s bid. Atalanta have already secured €105 million from player sales this window, with centre-back Marco Palestra set to join Chelsea for €60 million and midfielder Ederson moving to Manchester United for €45 million.
With Ahanor contracted until 2028, Atalanta can demand a significant premium for the defender, whom they view as central to their long-term plans. While Brighton’s offer would generate an immediate profit on the €20 million invested last year, the Bergamo club have indicated reluctance to sanction the teenager’s departure.
What happens next
The bid represents Brighton’s first formal offer for the player, moving beyond the exploratory discussions held in Milan. However, Atalanta’s strong negotiating position—bolstered by their substantial incoming transfer revenue and the player’s lengthy contract—suggests the Premier League club may need to substantially increase their proposal to secure a deal.