Coventry ‘close to signing’ Carl Rushworth in £22.5m club-record deal from Brighton | OneFootball

Coventry City are closing in on the club-record £22.5m signing of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Rushworth, who spent last season on loan at Coventry, is expected to join for an initial £22.5m. The Telegraph reports that the total could reach £30m with add-ons and instalments, and that Brighton have secured a sell-on clause plus a buy-back option.

An ever-present in Frank Lampard’s title-winning side, he swept the fans’, players’ and young player of the season awards. Coventry made him their priority this summer after an opening bid on 12 June was rejected.

Rushworth joined Brighton from non-league Halifax Town in 2019 and did not make a first-team appearance. Before Coventry he had loans at Worthing, Walsall, Lincoln City, Swansea City and Hull City.

Chances were limited at Brighton, where Bart Verbruggen is first choice and Jason Steele the back-up. The 25-year-old has been eager to prove himself in the Premier League and play regularly.

His arrival would be Coventry’s fourth signing of the summer window. Switzerland international centre-back Aurele Amenda joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for around £17m, setting a new record that surpassed the €9m paid to Antalyaspor for Haji Wright in August 2023.

They have also signed French winger Loum Tchaouna from Burnley, while Frank Onyeka’s loan was made permanent following promotion. Coventry return to the Premier League after a 25-year absence and start at champions Arsenal on Friday, 21 August, in the season opener.

Source: NY Times