Brighton & Hove Albion have been linked with São Paulo midfielder Damián Bobadilla, but the Brazilian club insist no approach has arrived.
According to Brazilian journalistJorge Nicola, rumours in recent days suggested Brighton, alongside Real Betis and Como, had made contact over the Paraguayan international.
However, Nicola says the Brazilian side denied receiving any enquiry or formal offer.
Speaking after contacting a senior football department official on Wednesday morning, the journalist explained that if any conversations have taken place, they were not with the club itself. Instead, they may have involved the player’s representatives.
For now, São Paulo’s stance is clear that there has been no official move.
Player profile and contract situation
Bobadilla is 24 and a regular starter this season. He has made 11 appearances, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
One of those goals came in the win over Red Bull Bragantino, which secured São Paulo’s place in the state championship semi-finals. He is currently considered an undisputed starter.
The midfielder joined São Paulo in 2024 from Cerro Porteño for €1.8m (£1.5m). That fee secured 60% of his economic rights. Therefore, any future sale would not see the Brazilian side retain the full amount.
In simple terms, even if a European club tabled a significant bid, São Paulo would keep just over half of the transfer fee. That detail could influence negotiations if concrete interest emerges.
His contract runs until December 2027, which places São Paulo in a relatively strong position. There is no immediate pressure to sell.
What this means for Brighton
From a Brighton perspective, this looks like early-stage noise rather than a live negotiation, but surely fits the recruitment profile.
Bobadilla is a Paraguay international and is expected to feature at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. If he performs well there, his valuation could rise sharply.
For now, though, there is no formal approach on record. If Brighton have genuine interest, any move would likely require talks with both São Paulo and the player’s camp – and an understanding that the Brazilian side do not control 100% of his rights.
At this stage, it is one to monitor rather than one that is moving.