[Emma Sanders](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy04nl1g8rno) reports that Brighton & Hove Albion are looking to sign Japanese midfielder Fuka Tsunoda from Urawa Reds. With deadline day approaching, the Seagulls have less than 30 hours to complete the deal before the transfer window closes at 23:00 BST on Thursday, September 4.
Tsunoda, 20, made her debut for Urawa Reds in 2021. If the deal goes through, she would become Brighton’s sixth summer signing, following Maëlys Mpome, Carla Carmacho, Manuela Vanegas Cataño, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Moeka Minami.
Brighton & Hove Albion have announced the signing of Chelsea defender Maëlys Mpome. Mpome joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024 from Montpellier, where she had spent the previous four years. The central defender made a total of eight appearances across the [Women’s Super League](https://womenfootball.blog/womens-super-league-table-standings/), League Cup, and Women’s Champions League. She ended the season with a treble win and now looks forward to a new adventure with Brighton.
On the international stage, Mpome has represented France at Under-16, Under-17, Under-19, and Under-20 levels, before going on to make 10 appearances for the Under-23 side.
**Dario Vidosic**: “We’re pleased to have Maelys with us. She’s had some exposure to the WSL already and we feel she can really develop with us.
“She’s a versatile defender with a lot of good attributes and we’re looking forward to working with her.”
Brighton & Hove Albion have also secured two recent loan deals, bringing in Michelle Agyemang and Rosa Kafaji from Arsenal. Agyemang returns to the Seagulls after spending last season at the club, while this marks Kafaji’s first loan spell since joining the Gunners. It will be interesting to see how much development both players make during the 2025/26 season.