Brighton have signed Poland’s record-breaking midfielder Kacper Kozłowski | Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton have signed Polish midfielder Kacper Kozłowski, who last summer became the youngest player to play at the European Championships. The 18-year-old joined Pogoń Szczecin for £8m on a contract until June 2026, but will immediately go on loan to Belgian club Royale Union St-Gilloise.

Kozłowski has gone down in history when, at the age of 17 years and 246 days, he played for the Polish national team against Spain at Euro 2020, breaking the record set less than a week earlier by the Englishman Jude Bellingham.

“His style of play suits us and our style,” said Brighton manager Graham Potter. “During my time here we did very well recruiting players for the future and Kacper is a similar signing.

“He will go on loan initially because it is important for him to develop further and he wants to continue playing regularly. We will be watching with interest as he is a very exciting young talent.

Kozłowski made his first-team debut for Pogoń aged 15 years and 215 days as a last-minute substitute and played six times for Poland. He has been unable to train for nearly six months from January 2020 after suffering injuries, including to his back, in a car accident.

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Bournemouth they are poised to beat their Premier League rivals to sign him Fleetwood Townis James Hill. The England U20 defender, who was called up to the England U21 squad last year before having to withdraw through injury, attracted a number of offers this window amidst interest from elite clubs across Europe, with Barcelona sending a scout to keep an eye on the 19 .-year-old in November.

But Bournemouth are poised to land a centre-back whose father, Matt, played for Bristol City, Preston and Sheffield United. The fee will set a Fleetwood club record, surpassing the £1.25m they received for Jamie Vardy in 2012.

Hill will undergo a medical on Wednesday and will join him in Bournemouth Manchester United defender Ethan Laird, who stood out for Swansea in the first half of the season. Laird is expected to join on loan. Bournemouth allowed experienced centre-back Steve Cook to join Nottingham Forest on Tuesday after a decade at the club.