Report: Marseille's Azzedine Ounahi agrees to Brighton transfer

Although a transfer fee is yet to be agreed between Brighton and Marseille, the move now appears to be a matter of "when" rather than "if".

The 25-year-old reignited his form during a season-long loan at Greek giants Panathinaikos, where he made 37 appearances and was voted fans' player of the season.

Despite a 11.5 million euros purchase option being included in the deal, Panathinaikos could not afford to trigger it.

Ounahi initially struggled to make an impact at Marseille after his high-profile move in the wake of a breakout 2022 FIFA World Cup with Morocco.

He has since fallen out of favour under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who has reportedly informed the player that he has no future at the club.

Brighton, long-time admirers of Ounahi, acted swiftly. Talks with the club's hierarchy are understood to have convinced the player to choose the South Coast outfit as the next step in his career.

Ounahi's dynamic performances in Qatar had previously made him one of the most sought-after talents in Europe, and Brighton now appear poised to provide the creative midfielder with a fresh platform to showcase his ability at the highest level.