Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the signing of Costinha from Olympiacos for a fee in the region of £11 million. The 26-year-old Portuguese right-back has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, keeping him at the Amex until the summer of 2031, and becomes the club's latest addition to a squad being reshaped under head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler said the club had followed Costinha closely for some time, adding that the defender "has the defensive capabilities, intensity and understanding of what we value". That last point matters: Brighton have built their recruitment around players who suit a specific style, and Costinha's profile as an attacking full-back who can defend solidly fits the mould of previous signings such as Maxim De Cuyper.
The move addresses a gap that had been forming at right-back. Tariq Lamptey has left the club, and long-serving Dutch defender Joel Veltman is expected to depart too, leaving Brighton short of specialist cover in that position. Costinha, who can also fill in on the left, gives Hurzeler a like-for-like option who is comfortable both defending his box and pushing forward to support attacks. Brighton's recent transfer business has leaned heavily on full-backs who can operate high up the pitch, and Costinha's willingness to overlap and carry the ball forward makes him a natural fit for a team that likes width in both boxes.
For Olympiacos, it is a significant loss. Costinha joined the Greek club in 2024 and quickly became one of their most trusted defenders, making 74 appearances across two seasons in all competitions, including regular European football. He was a first-choice pick in a side that competed domestically and continentally, and replacing that level of reliability at right-back will not be straightforward for the Greek champions, who will now need to dip into the transfer market themselves to cover the position.
Before his move to Greece, Costinha made his name in Portugal with Rio Ave, where his performances earned him a place in the Primeira Liga Team of the Season for 2023-24. Converted from a winger into a full-back earlier in his career, he retains an attacking instinct and is regarded as a strong ball-carrier, comfortable driving forward from deep and combining in the final third. His end product has been modest so far — one goal and four assists in Greece — but his defensive work, particularly his tackling and ball recovery, was the main draw for Brighton, who have generally prioritised defensive solidity over goal contributions when recruiting full-backs.
At 26, Costinha arrives in what should be the prime years of his career rather than as a long-term project, and Brighton will expect him to compete for a starting spot from day one. He also represented Portugal at various youth levels, from under-18 to under-21, underlining the pedigree that first put him on Brighton's radar.
His combination of defensive discipline and willingness to get forward suits Hurzeler's preference for full-backs who offer an outlet in the final third as well as defensive cover, and he should slot into a Brighton side that likes to play on the front foot down the flanks. How quickly he adapts to the pace and physicality of the Premier League will determine whether he starts regularly this season or eases in as competition for the right-back spot.