Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Spanish midfielder Chema Andrés from VfB Stuttgart on a five-year deal, securing the 21-year-old for a reported fee, according to Sofascore data. The late summer acquisition adds considerable physical presence and tactical versatility to head coach Fabian Hürzeler’s central midfield options as the club balances domestic Premier League commitments and European fixtures at the American Express Stadium.
The young Spaniard stands at 193 cm and arrives just thirteen months after making his move to the Bundesliga club from Real Madrid Castilla. During his time in Germany, Chema made 26 appearances in the top flight, scoring three goals and adding an assist, while also featuring nine times during Stuttgart’s run to the last 16 of the Europa League. As part of his original transfer from Madrid, the Spanish giants retained a right of first refusal and a 50 per cent sell-on clause.
The timing of the swoop addresses an urgent squad need following a string of fitness issues and departures. The defensive midfield position remained a primary question mark as the transfer window closed, heightened by Mats Wieffer sustaining an injury during a 4-3 defeat at Chelsea and Yasin Ayari sidelined with an ankle issue. With Carlos Baleba having recently departed for Manchester United, Hürzeler moved swiftly to secure a player capable of dictating tempo and providing necessary aerial cover in high-intensity matches.
Tactical Fit and Profiling Under Fabian Hürzeler
Chema’s arrival matches Brighton’s recruitment strategy of targeting technical, multi-role players with significant long-term upside. Standing right-footed and possessing exceptional height, the midfielder offers crucial balance to build-up phases and defensive structures. Throughout the early stages of the season, Brighton have maintained heavy possession figures and high pass accuracy in the Premier League, making the former Real Madrid youngster an ideal candidate to anchor the base or push forward as a linking eight.
Speaking about comparisons to Spain international Rodri—often drawn by analysts and journalists due to his build and style—Chema previously noted in an April interview with The Athletic that such talk comes primarily from external observers. “Those comparisons come from you guys (journalists),” Chema said. “They’re more about our physical profile because he’s still miles ahead. Hopefully, one day I can reach his level. They don’t affect me at all.”
From La Fábrica to the Premier League
The midfielder developed through Real Madrid’s renowned La Fábrica youth academy under the supervision of high-profile coaches including current Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, Fulham head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, and club legend Raúl. Having made his first-team debut in January 2025 before departing that summer, Chema has also been a regular fixture in Spain’s youth national team setups, though senior opportunities have remained scarce given established names like Rodri and Martín Zubimendi.
Stuttgart benefits from a substantial financial return on a player who featured in limited minutes this season, logging brief substitute appearances in both the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal. For Brighton, the acquisition represents both immediate depth and an investment in a profile that the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) youth setup has long tracked as a future senior prospect.
As Brighton prepares for its upcoming autumn schedule across domestic and European competitions, Hürzeler will look to integrate his new number 30 into training ahead of the next fixture cycle. Share your thoughts on this signing in the comments below and join the conversation on our social channels.
