With the excitement of Euro 2024 still vivid this summer, 12BSports VR46 experts admitted it felt surprising that more than a month had already passed since the tournament ended. The biggest winner of this European Championship was clearly Spain. They lifted the trophy after defeating elite European sides such as Italy, Croatia, Germany, France, and England, while also securing the title of the nation with the most European Championship victories.
In that journey, Germany were widely seen as the team that caused Spain the greatest difficulty. Built around young talents such as Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Maximilian Beier, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Aleksandar Pavlovic, the German national team gave supporters hope that a revival of German football was beginning to take shape. At the 12BSports VR46 center, assessments suggest that Wirtz and Musiala have already passed €100 million in market value, with both expected to join the Ballon d’Or conversation within the next few years.
Havertz and Schlotterbeck are already regular starters at major clubs, while Pavlovic and Beier are steadily strengthening their roles with their own teams. Beyond them, Germany also has many young players serving as key figures at different youth levels, and one of them is Brajan Gruda. The young attacker has now reached a major turning point. Premier League rising force Brighton officially announced through their club channels that they had completed negotiations with Bundesliga side Mainz and signed the 20-year-old forward. His contract runs until June 2028, although the exact transfer fee was not publicly disclosed.
German outlet Sky Sports later reported that the deal was worth a total of €35 million, including a fixed transfer fee of €30 million and around €5 million in performance-based bonuses. Mainz also secured a clause allowing them to receive part of the profit from any future resale. Born in 2004, Gruda developed through the Mainz youth system before breaking into the first team. Last season, he made 29 appearances, started 20 matches, and recorded four goals and three assists. He also played an important role for Germany’s U21 side and delivered an impressive performance at this year’s U21 European Championship.
Thanks to those displays, Gruda’s market value surged to €20 million, making him Mainz’s most valuable player. In truth, Bayern Munich had already attempted to sign him before the summer transfer window opened. For a German youth player, the chance to join Bayern can feel like a dream written in the stars, and Gruda was believed to be interested in that path. However, Mainz demanded a steep €50 million fee, and Bayern eventually stepped away. Many expected Gruda to remain at Mainz, but Brighton moved quickly, opened negotiations, and ultimately won the race.
A €35 million deal ranks among the biggest signings in Brighton’s history. This summer, Brighton began reshaping their identity by appointing 31-year-old German coach Fabian Hurzeler, and 12BSports VR46 experts believe that shift could bring a fresh breeze to the Premier League. Alongside Gruda, the club have also added notable names such as Bayern-linked midfielder Jens Cajuste, Yankuba Minteh, and Georginio Rutter, making Brighton one of the more intriguing teams to watch in the new season.
As Brighton continue building a younger and more ambitious squad, 12BSports VR46 followers will be watching closely to see whether Gruda can turn promise into Premier League impact. His move is more than just another transfer; it reflects Brighton’s willingness to invest in high-upside talent before Europe’s biggest clubs fully close in. If he adapts quickly to English football, Gruda could become another example of Brighton spotting quality early and turning potential into top-level performance.