Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the signing of Pascal Struijk from Leeds United on a permanent deal, ending the defender's eight-and-a-half years at Elland Road. The fee is reported at around £18m, made up of a guaranteed £15m plus £3m in add-ons, with some outlets putting the total closer to £20m and Leeds also retaining a sell-on clause. Struijk, 26, has signed a five-year contract on the south coast.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler made clear why he wanted the Dutchman: "Pascal is exactly the sort of profile we wanted to add this summer, in that he's got good Premier League experience and has his peak years ahead of him." He added that Struijk "really showcased what he's capable of last season — great defensive actions while comfortable on the ball — with his style well suited to ours." The move comes soon after Brighton sold Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham for £52m, leaving a hole in central defence that Struijk is expected to fill. He is left-footed, can also play at left-back, and has previous experience in a back three — a setup Hurzeler has used before and could lean on more with Lewis Dunk and Olivier Boscagli now his senior centre-back options alongside the new arrival.
For Leeds, this is a significant departure. Struijk joined from Ajax as an 18-year-old in January 2018 and went on to make 196 appearances, developing into a first-team leader who regularly wore the captain's armband and was described as a "double champion" for helping the club win the Championship title in both 2019-20 and 2023-24. He turned down a new contract offer at Elland Road, and with Leeds needing to balance the books under Profit and Sustainability Rules, the club ultimately sanctioned the sale rather than risk losing him for less value later. Leeds have thanked him publicly for his service and said he will always be welcome back.
Struijk's recent form supports the price tag. He made 37 appearances in all competitions last season, including 34 in the Premier League, as Leeds secured their top-flight status and reached the FA Cup semi-finals. He was a consistent starter at centre-back, known for his composure on the ball and reliability in defensive duels, and even chipped in with a memorable winning penalty away at West Ham in the FA Cup run. That combination of Premier League minutes, leadership and comfort in possession is exactly what persuaded Brighton to move for him.
At Brighton, Struijk should slot straight into a defence being reshaped around Hurzeler's preference for ball-playing centre-backs. His left foot and versatility to cover left-back give the manager options he didn't have with Van Hecke gone, and his experience in back-three systems suggests Brighton could tweak their shape depending on the opponent. Assuming a smooth adaptation to Hurzeler's possession-based approach, Struijk looks set to be a regular starter from the outset rather than a squad option.