Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion has signed Italian international central defender Diego Coppola from Hellas Verona for an undisclosed fee.

Lautaro Martinez (R) of FC Inter vies with Diego Coppola of Hellas Verona during the Serie A 19th round football match between FC Inter and Hellas Verona in Milan, Italy, Jan. 6, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Coppola has agreed a five-year contract with 'the Seagulls' and will help cover for the loss of Spain international Dean Huijsen, who signed for Madrid earlier in the summer for 50 million pounds (68 million U.S. dollars).

Coppola, who is currently with the Italian U-21 side at the European Championships in Slovakia, made his debut for Hellas Verona in 2021 and made 81 first team appearances for the club.

"Diego is an exciting addition for the club. Although he is still young, he is tall, strong and mobile, and he will give us a real physical presence," commented Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler on the club website.

Hurzeler highlighted the "impressive progress" the defender has made, adding he "deserved his call-up to the Italian national team."

Coppola is Brighton's second signing of the summer, with striker Charalampos Kostoulas also arriving from Greek outfit Olympiakos.