Brighton's new defender Igor Julio backed to succeed in Premier League

Journalist Lorenzo Lepore, who works for Italian site TuttoMercatoWeb, has been watching the 25-year-old since he joined Fiorentina in 2020.

Left-sided defender Julio was announced on a four-year deal on Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.

Although the fee is understood to be in the region of £14 million plus add ons.

Lepore said fans can expect a strong defender who is good in one-on-one situations and able to play out from the back.

Julio has signed on a four-year deal (Image: BHAFC/James Boardman)

The journalist said on Albion’s website: “Igor is a really great defender, who is capable of helping his team in both phases of play: he’s competent with his feet and in defence.

“He has excellent technique and he is a capable playmaker, too. He is strong, he is good in one-on-one situations.

“I believe he was one of Fiorentina’s best signings in recent years and I think De Zerbi is the perfect coach for him.

“He was one of the best players in the 2021/22 season, which was the first year Vincenzo Italiano became Fiorentina’s head coach.

“Julio’s best position is as a left-sided centre-back but he can also play at left-back if needed. In 2021/22, he had an incredible season and while he was good last season, he made some errors. If he can improve his concentration levels, he can become a top centre-back in Europe.

Albion announced their newest signing on Wednesday (Image: BHAFC/James Boardman)

“I also think De Zerbi can improve him a lot. Igor's style of play suits the way De Zerbi wants Brighton to play, and their style is quite similar to how Fiorentina plays at times so I think he can do really well there.”

A left-sided defender who can play left back or centre back.

He certainly fits a similar profile as Levi Colwill, who returned to Chelsea after a successful loan with Albion.

Albion had a £30 million bid rejected for Colwill in June.

It is also reported that the club are insisting on the 20-year-old as part of any potential deal for Moises Caicedo. Albion rejected an £80 million bid for the midfielder on Thursday.

Looking at Julio statistically, he recorded 1.88 tackles per 90 putting him in the 70th percentile in Serie A, at the top end of all the league’s players. His tackle success rate was 86 per cent.

He was also in the 86th percentile for shots blocked, 83rd percentile for how much he was dribbled past per 90 which highlights his ability as a one-on-one defender.

Julio described it as a 'childhood dream' to play in the Premier League (Image: James Boardman/BHAFC)

Julio appears slightly less aerially dominant than Levi Colwill, winning 1.71 aerial duels per 90 compared to Colwill’s 3.25 per 90 minutes.

He also never got on the score sheet during his time at Fiorentina.

Colwill was in the 92nd percentile for aerial duels won per 90 last season, showing he was one of the best players in the air in the Premier League.

Another one of Colwill’s best attributes was his calmness on the ball and pass completion. He was in the 99th percentile last season. Igor Julio was also in the top ten per cent of players in Serie A last season for this.

The 6ft1in defender picked up ten yellow cards and one red card compared to Colwill’s one yellow card last season.

Head coach De Zerbi said Julio was someone with the “right characteristics” to play in the Premier League when asked before his signing was announced.

Julio made 27 Serie A appearances for the Italian side last season including in their Europa Conference League defeat to West Ham in June.

He started his career with Santos-based Portuguesa in Brazil before moving to Austria in 2016 where he played for second-tier club FC Liefering, before spells in the Austrian top-flight with Red Bull Salzburg and on loan at Wolfsberger and Austria Wien.

The 25-year-old Brazilian joined Fiorentina permanently two years ago following a loan from Italian outfit SPAL and has gone on to make 110 appearances for Fiorentina.