Ansu Fati has right characteristics for Brighton says De Zerbi

Brighton announced the 20-year-old on loan from Barcelona for the season this afternoon.

Tottenham and Chelsea were said to be interested but Fati is understood to have been impressed by Brighton's style of play under De Zerbi.

However, Albion’s head coach said he would not be ready to play against Newcastle this weekend.

“I am very pleased, he is a big player. We lost [Julio] Enciso who is one big player”, said De Zerbi.

“We are lucky because we have a lot of young players with high potential.

Fati has made 80 Barcelona appearances

“We didn’t think until three or four days ago [about signing Ansu Fati]. We knew well about him and understood there was a possibility to bring him in.

“I told him our style is very close with his characteristics and qualities. Brighton is a club that can help him as a young player. The dressing room is fantastic.

“I spoke to him sincerely. He decided to come here because of the ambition at the club.”

It is understood that Albion are paying 80 per cent of Fati's contract which amounts to £160,000 per week.

This will be paid over 10 months until the end of June and will cost £7 million for the season.

Albion’s interest in Fati came in light of the knee injury that Julio Enciso suffered which will see him out for a period of months.

The winger inherited the number 10 shirt from Lionel Messi when he left for PSG in 2021, showing the faith the Catalan club have in him.

De Zerbi said Brighton’s new signing can play across the front line and in the number 10 position.

Fati holds a number of records for Barcelona, having joined their famous academy, La Masia, aged 10.

He became the club’s second-youngest appearance maker in August 2019 when he came on as a substitute in a 5-2 win over Real Betis, before becoming Barca's youngest goal scorer in a 2-2 draw against Osasuna six days later.

In September 2019 he became Barcelona’s youngest Champions League player and his goal against Inter Milan in December 2019 made him their youngest goalscorer in Champions League history.

Albion's technical director David Weir said: “We are delighted to bring Ansu to the club. 

"He is one of the most highly-rated young players in the world and arrives with an impressive amount of experience both domestically and in European competition, despite his age.

“This season is the biggest in the club’s history and we’re really happy that a player of Ansu’s quality is going to be part of it.”

Fati can play across the front line or as a number ten

He has scored 22 goals and provided six assists in 80 Barcelona appearances, many of which have been substitute appearances.

However, Fati has struggled with injuries in his short career.

In November 2020, he suffered a meniscus injury which left him out for almost a year. While in the 2021/22 season he was out for four months with two separate hamstring injuries.

Last season, he managed to stay free of injuries and played 36 games (12 starts), scoring seven league goals providing three assists.

Fati was not selected for Spain’s under-21 or senior sides for their upcoming fixtures in September.