Brighton & Hove Albion have announced that Alexis Mac Allister has signed a new long-term contract with the club.
The 23-year-old was due to see his initial deal expire next summer, but the midfielder has now put pen to paper on an extension until June 2025, with an additional one-year option for the club.
Mac Allister joined the Seagulls from Argentinos Juniors in January 2019, but he retuned to the Argentine club on loan for the rest of the season before spending a separate six-month loan spell with Boca Juniors in the second half of 2019.
The Argentina international has since established himself as a first-team regular at Brighton, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in 83 appearances across all competitions.
Speaking to the club's official website after signing his new contract, Mac Allister said: "We've been discussing a new contract for a few weeks, and I'm very happy it's all agreed and signed.
Alexis Mac Allister has committed his long-term future to the Albion by agreeing a new contract until June 2025. 😁
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 24, 2022
🤝 @FirstTouchGames // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️
"I am really happy here at Brighton. I'm grateful for the opportunity the club gave me to come to England and play in the Premier League, and it's been an incredible journey.
"We have made great progress with Graham Potter, and I know there is more to make. I am now enjoying working with another top coach in Roberto De Zerbi and want to help the club to keep progressing."
Head coach De Zerbi added: "I'm very happy for Alexis and for the club. He is an important player for us, and it is very good he has signed this new long-term contract.
"I am looking forward to working more with him, helping him to improve, and to seeing him play at the World Cup next month."
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Mac Allister has played the full 90 minutes in 10 of Brighton's 11 Premier League games so far this season, with an 87-minute outing in last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City the only game in which he has been withdrawn early.
Prior to De Zerbi's arrival, Mac Allister enjoyed a scoring spree under former boss Graham Potter, netting four times in his opening six league fixtures, including a brace in the 5-2 victory at home against Leicester City in September.
Mac Allister initially arrived at Brighton as an attack-minded midfielder who could also operate as a false nine, but he has since developed into a deep-lying playmaker this term and has formed a strong partnership alongside Moises Caicedo.
Indeed, Caicedo is also under contract with the Seagulls until 2025, but the 20-year-old has been linked with a potential exit from the Amex Stadium amid interest from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Both Mac Allister and Caicedo are set to be called up by Argentina and Ecuador respectively for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar between November and December.
Oliver Thomas
