Chelsea have joined Galatasaray in the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Yasin Ayari. Talks to extend the 23-year-old’s current contract have stalled, alerting several clubs to his situation.
Ayari’s deal expires at the end of the season, but Brighton have an option to extend it by another 12 months. This has yet to be triggered. Several Premier League clubs are also monitoring the development closely after Super Lig leaders Galatasaray emerged as a surprise suitor for the midfielder.
Earlier reports, however, suggested a very different future for Ayari. Some claimed that Brighton intended to activate the one-year add-on, keeping the Sweden international at the Amex Stadium until the summer of 2028. The 23-year-old has become an increasingly influential figure in the Brighton side under manager Fabian Hurzeler since joining from AIK in January 2023.
Ayari has provided two assists in Brighton’s opening six Premier League games this season after scoring three times and registering three assists in 29 league games last campaign. He also enjoyed a memorable summer on the international stage, scoring in Sweden’s thrilling 5-1 win over Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup, which will further raise his stock among Europe’s elite clubs.
The Blues’ interest in Ayari is the latest development in a busy transfer market as they continue scouting for midfield reinforcements ahead of January and next summer. Chelsea sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City on deadline day, but their pursuit of Lamine Camara collapsed, leaving Xabi Alonso light in midfield in his opening campaign in West London.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott remains their priority, although the Cherries value their influential midfielder at around £100 million and are reluctant to sell mid-season, but Roma’s Manu Kone has emerged as their main alternative with Ayari’s situation potentially offering a cheaper alternative to either.
Chelsea sporting director Paul Winstanley knows Ayari particularly well from his previous time at Brighton, but there is no indication the Blues have made a formal offer for the midfielder.
Chelsea’s Brighton Connection: From Moises Caicedo to Joao Pedro
Ayari would not be the first player to make the switch from Brighton to Chelsea in recent years, with the Blues poaching Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez and Joao Pedro from the Seagulls since 2022. Several of those signings have since become vital figures in West London, with Joao Pedro top scorer with five Premier League goals and Caicedo’s return from injury helping to plug a leaky defence.
Winstanley’s in-depth knowledge of the Seagulls’ recruitment strategy has played a major part in many of those arrivals since he joined the club. If Ayari’s contract stand-off drags on, Chelsea could look to exploit that connection again in the coming months.