Brighton have completed the permanent signing of teenage defender Tariq Lamptey for an undisclosed fee from Chelsea.
The 19-year-old, who made his Premier League debut against Arsenal earlier this season, has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Seagulls boss Graham Potter said: “We are really pleased to have secured the signing of a really exciting young talent in Tariq.
“I am now looking forward to working with Tariq on the training pitch to help him develop further, and I’m sure our supporters are looking forward to seeing him in an Albion shirt.
“With his pace and technical ability, Tariq provides us with another option on the right side of the pitch both at right-back, where we already have good competition, and also further up the pitch.”
The Seagulls have also successfully recalled Alexis Mac Allister from his loan spell with Argentinian club Boca Juniors.
Technical director Dan Ashworth flew to Buenos Aires last week to negotiate Mac Allister’s return to the club he initially signed for last January.
The 21-year-old midfielder remained in Argentina after agreeing a four-and-a-half year contract and was on a season-long loan at Boca, but such has been his progress Brighton have opted to bring him to the Premier League early.
Potter said: “We’re delighted to have Alexis with us for the rest of this season, having now been granted his work permit.
“He will give us another attacking option from midfield. He is creative and capable of scoring goals.
“I have watched his progress with great interest in the past year, playing top-level football in South America and making his senior international debut for Argentina. I am now looking forward to working with him day to day.”
Mac Allister is currently with Argentina’s under-23s in Colombia, where he is taking part in the Olympic Games qualifying tournament and has scored two goals.
He will link up with Brighton after the tournament finishes on February 9.
Earlier, Seagulls forward Jurgen Locadia was recalled from his loan spell with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.
The Dutchman has been linked with a move to the United States and MLS side FC Cincinnati.
Locadia scored four times in 12 appearances in all competitions for the German side.
The 26-year-old joined Brighton from PSV Eindhoven for £14million in January 2018 but struggled to hold down a place.
He scored six goals in 43 appearances before being loaned out to Hoffenheim at the start of the season.
Meanwhile, Slovenian striker Jan Mlakar has been recalled from his loan spell with Championship side QPR.
On a busy deadline day in Sussex central defender Leon Balogun joined Championship Wigan on loan until the end of the season.
![The Netherlands' Joey Veerman pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/11/29/1x1.gif?w=1&h=1 "The Netherlands' Joey Veerman pictured in June 2024 [IMAGO]")
