Brighton & Hove Albion beat several big Italian clubs to secure the signature of Diego Coppola in the summer transfer window.
The defender arrived for a little over €10m from Hellas Verona and while he’s played just a single minute in the Premier League, there is still some buzz in Italy about his transfer to the Amex Stadium.
Gazzetta dello Sport have managed to speak to the new Brighton defender and he explained that playing in the Premier League was always his dream and he was ‘overjoyed’ when he heard about an approach from Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
He said, relayed by [PianetaMilan](https://www.pianetamilan.it/video/coppola-premier-league-e-il-campionato-migliore-video-05-09-2025/): _“__So I already knew about the offer \[as\] there were already rumours, that Verona and Brighton were discussing. I was immediately overjoyed because the Premier League is the Premier League.”_
The 21-year-old further said: _“For me, the Premier League has always been, ever since I was a kid, seen as the best league among these European championships or rather the world. Because ultimately, it’s the best football in Europe, so if it’s the best in Europe, it’s also the best in the world._
_“I’ve always seen it as a bit of a dream, but almost a point of arrival, because beyond the cup called the Champions League, the Premier League is still, in my opinion, the best league in the world.”_
The Italian insisted he always gave his best at Hellas Verona and that is why the move to Brighton has come about.
_“Obviously I gave my all. I would because for me Verona was a dream, my home._ _So that definitely gave me that extra boost of energy, it was definitely nice, yes.”_
Coppola played 85 times for Hellas Verona over the past three seasons and this earned him a call-up to the Italian national team some months ago.
This highlights his qualities as a defender and even though he has just one appearance under Hurzeler in the Premier League, Coppola is simply adapting to a new environment and tactical set up.