Billy Gilmour departs Chelsea in £9m switch to Brighton after Blues U-turn on keeping the Scot
Billy Gilmour departs Chelsea in £9m switch to Brighton after Thomas Tuchel and Co U-turned on their decision to keep the Scot despite injuries to N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield
- Chelsea have confirmed the sale of Billy Gilmour to Brighton for £9 million
- Scottish midfielder Gilmour has struggled for game time at Stamford Bridge
- He spent last season on loan at Norwich, but couldn’t avoid relegation with them
- It is a surprising move amid injuries to N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Billy Gilmour has moved from Chelsea to Brighton on a permanent basis for £9 million.
Midfielder Gilmour looked set to stay at Stamford Bridge due to their reluctance to let him go and also the club’s midfield issues, despite manager Thomas Tuchel being willing to sanction his departure.
But they have softened their stance and sold the Scottish midfielder to Brighton, who are flying high under Graham Potter. Gilmour has signed a four-year contract with the Seagulls.
Chelsea have sold Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour to Premier League Brighton for £9 million
Brighton teased Gilmour’s arrival, and then confirmed it, with golfing imagery, in honour of the 1996 film ‘Happy Gilmore’, starring Adam Sandler and Julie Bowen.
Head coach Graham Potter told the Brighton website: ‘Billy arrives with a fantastic pedigree, having played in the Premier League and Champions League as well as for Scotland at last year’s Euros. He will complement our existing midfield options.
‘That experience at quite a young age shows the strength of character he has and we’re really excited by his potential.
‘Now it’s about allowing him the time to get used to a new environment and settling in to our club. We can’t wait to work with him.’
Gilmour joined Chelsea from Rangers and broke into the first team under Frank Lampard in 2019, standing out in early man-of-the-match performances against Liverpool and Everton.
He has found opportunities less forthcoming under Thomas Tuchel and spent last season on loan at Norwich.
The 21-year-old has made 22 appearances for the Blues in three years, but has been a regular for Scotland since making his debut last year.
The agreement is surprising, coming after injuries to N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Thomas Tuchel’s side were also without the suspended Conor Gallagher in their last game
The agreement to sell Gilmour comes as something of a surprise given Chelsea’s current midfield situation.
They were without N’Golo Kante through injury and Conor Gallagher through suspension for their 2-1 loss to Southampton on Tuesday night, and they failed to get Ajax star Edson Alvarez.
It could be a long few months for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who are currently languishing in ninth place.
Chelsea are next in action against West Ham on Saturday.
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