Official | Brighton seal rapid €20m-plus Chema Andrés capture | OneFootball

VfB Stuttgart have officially confirmed the departure of Spanish midfielder Chema Andrés to Brighton & Hove Albion. The 21-year-old joins the Premier League outfit on a permanent transfer and has signed a long-term contract through June 2031. Kicker reports that Stuttgart will receive a fee exceeding €20m.

The agreement developed extraordinarily quickly on deadline day. Get German Football News reported Tuesday afternoon that Brighton had submitted a bid worth more than €20m for Andrés, leaving Stuttgart with a difficult decision over whether to sacrifice one of Sebastian Hoeneß’ rapidly developing midfielders with virtually no time to secure a replacement.

Only hours later, the deal was complete.

Stuttgart Board Member for Sport Fabian Wohlgemuth confirmed that the Bundesliga club would have preferred to keep Andrés but ultimately accepted the player’s desire to pursue the Premier League opportunity after Brighton satisfied VfB’s financial demands.

Chema delivers extraordinary return after one Stuttgart season

Andrés departs only one year after arriving from Real Madrid for approximately €3m. Get German Football News covered Andrés’ impending €3m transfer from Real Madrid in July 2025. The deal contained significant protections for the Spanish giants, including a buyback provision and a reported 50 percent participation re-sale clause.

Andrés nevertheless developed rapidly enough for Stuttgart to receive a major offer just 13 months later.

The Spaniard progressed from rotational option to genuine competition for club captain Atakan Karazor at the base of midfield. His composure in possession, positional intelligence and ability to operate in several central roles enabled him to earn increasingly important minutes alongside Angelo Stiller.

His progress was already evident during Stuttgart’s Europa League campaign. GGFN’s early-season assessment of Stuttgart’s European prospects highlighted the youngster’s maturity as he increasingly established himself within Hoeneß’ midfield rotation.

Andrés finished his only complete Stuttgart season with 40 competitive appearances: 26 in the Bundesliga, nine in the Europa League and five in the DFB-Pokal. The 21-year-old helped Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League and reach the DFB-Pokal final.

Brighton move follows strong Stuttgart preseason

Andrés remained prominently involved in Stuttgart’s plans entering the new campaign. As detailed in Get German Football News’s 2026/27 Stuttgart tactical preview, the Spaniard emerged as one of the quieter winners of preseason.

Hoeneß used Andrés as the deepest midfielder, further forward in the centre and even in central defence when circumstances required it. His versatility left Stuttgart with four markedly different midfield profiles alongside Stiller, Karazor and summer arrival Grischa Prömel.

Andrés nevertheless began Stuttgart’s first two competitive fixtures of the new season on the bench and made late substitute appearances in both.

Brighton subsequently moved decisively.

The Premier League club, coached by former St. Pauli trainer Fabian Hürzeler, have now secured a player whose estimated market value doubled from approximately €10m to €20m during his first Bundesliga season.

Statements on Andrés’ Stuttgart departure

“Chema settled in very quickly as a young player following his move from Spain to VfB,” Wohlgemuth said in Stuttgart’s official statement. “He also played his part in enabling us to qualify for the Champions League and reach the cup final. On short notice, Chema was presented with the opportunity to move to Brighton in the Premier League.”

“From a sporting perspective, we would have liked to keep Chema,” Wohlgemuth continued. “But that was balanced against the player’s desire to make the move. We attached corresponding financial conditions to the transfer. Those conditions were met, so we ultimately agreed to the move.”

Brighton sporting director Mike Cave added: “We are very pleased to welcome Chema to the club. He has received an excellent education having progressed through Real Madrid’s academy, followed by a very good season with Stuttgart.

“We have been aware of Chema’s potential for some time and look forward to working with him.”

GGFN | Peter Weis