Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of defender Levi Colwill from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal.
The 19-year-old moves to the Amex Stadium on a temporary basis for the 2022-23 campaign, while left-back Marc Cucurella has moved in the opposite direction on a permanent deal with the Seagulls receiving a club-record transfer fee believed to be worth in excess of £60m.
Colwill becomes Graham Potter's third signing of the summer window after the arrivals of Julio Enciso and Simon Adingra, the latter of whom will spend the new season with Belgian club Union SG on loan.
Speaking to Brighton's official website on the arrival of Colwill, Potter said, "Levi has enormous potential and has already shown his ability last season in the Championship and with England at various age group levels up to Under-21s.
Albion are delighted to announce the signing of @Levi_Colwill on loan. 🙌
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 5, 2022
🤝 @FirstTouchGames // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️
"I am really looking forward to working with him on the training pitch, and in matches over the course of the season.
"He plays mostly at centre-back, but has also played on the left as a full-back, and he is a player who is comfortable on the ball."
Colwill, who will wear the number six shirt at Brighton, joined Chelsea's academy at the age of nine and he has gone on to make over 40 appearances at youth level, ranging from the Under-18s up to the Under-23s set-up.
The 6ft 2in defender spent the 2021-22 campaign on loan with Championship outfit Huddersfield Town, where he made 31 league appearances.
Colwill became a key figure under former boss Carlos Corberan and helped the Terriers secure a third-place finish in the second tier, before they ultimately lost out in the Championship playoff final.
Welcome to #BHAFC, @Levi_Colwill! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/vag7wb1Zju
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 5, 2022
Colwill, who is yet to make a single senior appearance for Chelsea, will now get the opportunity to test himself in the Premier League with Brighton, and will be competing with the likes of Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, Joel Veltman and Matt Clarke for a place in Potter's starting lineup.
The England Under-21 international could make his debut for the Seagulls in their opening Premier League fixture of the new season at Old Trafford against Manchester United on August 7.
While Colwill has arrived at the Amex Stadium, Brighton have confirmed that defender Shane Duffy has joined newly-promoted Fulham on a season-long loan deal.
After a year on loan with Scottish giants Celtic in 2020-21, the 30-year-old returned to Brighton and featured 20 times across all competitions last season, but the Irishman has decided to leave the club again on a temporary basis and move to Craven Cottage.
Oliver Thomas
