Deadline day brought another Real Madrid academy payday. Brighton completed the transfer of Chema Andrés from VfB Stuttgart for €23 million, and Real Madrid are set to collect €11.5 million after keeping 50% of his rights. Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany said Chema Andrés was on his way to the Premier League, while MARCA reported that Brighton had completed the deal.
Real Madrid's sell-on model
The fee is the story here, not just the move itself. Real Madrid have made a habit of cashing in on academy exits, and this one brings another €11.5 million into the club from a player who was developed, sold and now moved on again at a higher price.
MARCA said Brighton and Hove Albion completed the transfer from Stuttgart on deadline day, while the earlier report from Plettenberg described the move as still in progress with Chema on his way. Both versions point to the same outcome for Madrid, who no longer have future rights on the player.
Chema's route to the Premier League
The Brighton move also comes after a productive first season in Germany. Chema Andrés made 39 appearances for Stuttgart in all competitions, scored four goals and provided two assists. For a 21-year-old midfielder, that is a decent return and enough to put the Premier League move on a firmer footing.
Brighton get a player with some senior mileage, Stuttgart lose a midfielder who had already settled into regular first-team football, and Madrid take another profitable exit from their academy system. The transfer was reported on deadline day, with the medical and final steps now the last part of the move.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
