Brighton & Hove Albion has reached an agreement with Newcastle United for the transfer of winger Yankuba Minteh. The fee is reported to be in the region of £33 million ($41.7 million), according to The Athletic.
If the reported fee is correct, it will set a new club record for a fee paid by Brighton, surpassing the £30 million paid for Joao Pedro last summer.
Newcastle has already granted the 19-year-old permission to negotiate personal terms with Brighton, with talks expected to take place through Sunday. Minteh has traveled from Gambia and is preparing to undergo a medical to finalize the move while his agent is believed to have arrived in Newcastle on Saturday night to negotiate the terms of the contract before the month comes to an end saving NUFC from any financial punishment.
The transfer comes as Newcastle seeks to address their financial obligations under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). The club faces potential penalties, including a points deduction next season, if they fail to generate sufficient funds through player sales before the June 30 deadline.
Earlier reports indicated that Newcastle was in discussions with multiple clubs—namely Everton and Lyon—regarding potential transfers to resolve their PSR issues, but those transfers never materialized.
Entering Sunday’s deadline day, everything points toward the departure of Minteh and academy graduate Elliot Anderson, with Anthony Elanga possibly heading to Newcastle in a separate deal—although that move will always be completed from July 1 on so it is part of the next season’s financial tally.
Minteh has expressed a strong preference to remain in the Premier League, rejecting a move to French club Lyon despite an initially agreed deal. A proposed transfer to Everton also fell through when terms could not be agreed upon between Newcastle and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The young Minteh joined Newcastle from Danish side Odense Boldklub for €7 million last summer but was instantly sent away on a loan deal to Dutch side Feyenoord. He scored 10 goals and provided 6 assists in 27 Eredivisie matches, helping raise his market value ahead of this summer transfer window.
