Brighton signs Italian new international Coppola, and Inzaghi coaches Serie B team Palermo

Premier League club Brighton officially announced that it has signed 21-year-old Italian defender Diego Coppola from Serie A team Verona. According to the German transfer market website, the transfer fee is 11 million euros.

Coppola just made his debut for the Italian adult national team earlier this month and made two appearances, and now he will be heading to the Premier League. Coppola signed a five-year contract with Brighton until the summer of 2030.

Earlier this season, Coppola was also associated with transfers from AC Milan and Juventus. Italian transfer expert Alfredo Pedura revealed that Brighton has agreed to pay a fee of just under €12 million to bring Coppola to the south coast of Britain.

In the 2024-25 season, Coppola became Verona's unshakable main player. He participated in 34 Serie A games this season, scoring two goals, but missed several games only due to injury and suspension. So far, he has played 85 times in all games and scored 4 goals in total. On the international match day in June, Spaletti called Coppola due to the injury crisis of the Italian national team on the defense. The young defender also made two consecutive appearances, with his debut as a 0-3 defeat to Norway in the World Cup qualifiers, and then a 2-0 victory over Moldova.

At present, Coppola has returned to the Italian U21 national team and went to Slovakia to participate in the European Youth Championship.

Brighton wrote in a statement: "We are pleased to confirm the signing of Italian international Diego Coppola at an undisclosed fee, but comply with the usual regulatory procedures. The 21-year-old 6-foot-4 centre-back joined from Serie A club Verona for a five-year contract."

Brighton coach Fabian Huzeler added: "Diego is an exciting new member of the club, and although he is young, he is tall." Big, strong and flexible, he will bring us real physical strength. He has made impressive progress in Serie A and deserves to be called up by the Italian national team. We look forward to helping him develop further."

Local time in Italy, Serie B club Palermo officially announced that "Super Pipo" Philip Inzagi has become the team's new head coach. Just a few weeks ago, Inzaghi had just led Pisa to the Serie A.

Palermo confirmed in an official statement that Da Inzaghi had signed a "year-old contract" with the Fan Black Legion. According to recent reports, Palermo agreed to pay a 1 million euro termination fee, which will allow Grand Inzagi to terminate the contract with Pisa Club.

Greenzagi led Pisa to second place in the Italian second division in the 2024-25 season, which was enough to allow them to advance directly to Serie A with champion Sassuolo, ending the club's 34-year history of missing the top league.

Pisa ended the 2024-25 season with 76 points, with a record of 23 wins, 7 draws and 8 losses. They were 6 points behind the leader, but 10 points ahead of the third-ranked Spezia. Meanwhile, Palermo ranked 8th in the second division at the end of the 2024-25 season, one point lower than the playoff area and even failed to enter the upgraded playoffs.

Palermo will be the ninth club coached by Grand Inzaghi. The 52-year-old Italian coach also has AC Milan, Venice, Bologna, Benevento, Brescia, Regina, Sarenitana and Pisa on his resume.