Brighton Reject Rangers' £7.5m Bid for Cozier-Duberry
Brighton have turned down a £7.5m offer from Rangers for winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, with the 21-year-old staying put on the south coast for now.
The bid from the Glasgow club would have ranked as their second-highest transfer fee in more than two decades, trailing only the early-2000s deals that brought Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo to Ibrox. Rangers are one of several clubs keen on signing Cozier-Duberry permanently, and had held discussions with Brighton over a potential deal that has now been firmly rebuffed, according to the BBC.
For Brighton, the rejection reflects a player whose stock is rising quickly. Cozier-Duberry spent last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers in League One, England's third tier, and made it count: eight goals and 12 assists in 34 appearances, a place in the League One team of the season, and a play-off final victory that sent Bolton up to the Championship. Not bad for a player who joined Brighton from Arsenal's academy in July 2024 on a four-year deal, having scored 13 goals in 24 appearances for Arsenal's Under-21 side.
His contract at the Amex Stadium runs until 2028, though with less than two years now remaining, Brighton face a decision about his short-term future. Cozier-Duberry was an unused substitute in Brighton's 1-0 win at home to Bologna, suggesting he is around the first-team picture without yet being central to it. Championship clubs are circling with interest in a possible loan move, which would give him regular minutes while Brighton assess whether he is ready to break into their Premier League setup.
Rangers, meanwhile, may not be done. Their interest in Cozier-Duberry has been building through the summer, with reports in late July suggesting they were pushing ahead with a planned swoop, Sky Sports reported. Vaclav Cerny, who spent last season on loan at Ibrox, has also been linked with a return, though his wage demands have been flagged as a complicating factor, Sky Sports noted.
Hull City were another club credited with interest earlier in the window, the BBC reported.
What makes Cozier-Duberry attractive is his directness. Growing up, he admired Arjen Robben — the Dutch winger famous for cutting inside onto his left foot and rifling shots into the far corner. Cozier-Duberry cited first-team opportunities as the main reason he chose Brighton over other options when he left Arsenal, and that appetite for minutes is exactly what will shape his next move.
Whether Rangers return with an improved offer, a Championship loan materialises, or Brighton decide to keep him involved in Fabian Hürzeler's squad, the next few weeks of the transfer window will settle it. One thing is clear: Brighton are not letting him go cheaply.
