Mario Gila next to circular insets of Enzo Maresca and Fabian Huzeler
Credit: Lazio/Imago/Hasan Karim - Breaking Media
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Tue 14 October 2025 13:07, UK
Chelsea and Brighton are keeping close tabs on Lazio defender Mario Gila, sources have told Football Insider.
The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Serie A since arriving from Real Madrid in 2022.
Last season, the Spaniard started 31 games in the league for the Italian side, helping them to a seventh-place finish, just missing out on European football.
Gila is under contract at Lazio until the summer of 2027 and the Rome-based club are bracing themselves for interest in the defender.
Enzo Maresca shouting instructions from the Chelsea touchline.
Credit: Imago
Chelsea and Brighton hold serious interest in Mario Gila
Sources say that Brighton have held a long-term interest in Gila and tried to sign him in the summer transfer window, after he ranked highly on their list of defensive targets in terms of stats.
The Seagulls are renowned for their expertise when it comes to recruitment and very rarely make the wrong decision on player acquisitions.
Hurzeler
Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media
Chelsea are also admirers of Gila and have watched him on several occasions this season.
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Enzo Maresca has made his desire for a new centre-back clear, after failing to get a defender deal over the line during the summer.
Gila is among the best centre-backs in Serie A statistically
One of Gila’s big strengths is his ability on the ball, and the statistics suggest that he is among the best progressive centre-backs in the Serie A.
In the 2024-25 campaign, the 25-year-old’s creative abilities were on full show in an attacking Lazio side.
Mario Gila Stats (Per 90) 2024-25 Percentile (Compared to Serie A centre-backs)
Progressive Passes 5.16 93
Passes into the final third 5.29 97
Pass Accuracy 91.6% 87
Recoveries 5.02 93
Dribblers Tackled 1.21 90
Mario Gila’s stats 2024-25 Serie A
Last season, Gila was in the top seven per cent of centre-halves for progressive passes per 90 (5.16) in the Italian top division.
He was also in the top three per cent for passes into the final third per 90 (5.29), as well as maintaining an overall pass completion rate of 91.6%.
Gila was impressive defensively as well, making 5.02 recoveries per 90, as well as being in the top 10 per cent of Serie A centre-backs in terms of dribblers tackled per 90 (1.21).
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