BRIGHTON, 25 August 2026 By Nick Staunton
Brighton & Hove Albion are closing in on the signing of Jaouen Hadjam from Swiss side Young Boys, with the two clubs working towards a deal worth around €12m (£10.3m) plus potential add-ons.
The 23-year-old Algeria international is expected to travel to England to complete a medical and finalise personal terms, with reports suggesting he will sign a contract running until June 2031. A verbal agreement has already been reached, with only the final details of the transfer still to be completed.
Hadjam would add another option on the left side of Fabian Hürzeler’s defence at a time when Brighton are continuing to reshape their squad following another busy summer transfer window.
Born in Paris, Hadjam came through the ranks at Paris FC before joining Nantes and then moving to Young Boys in January 2024. The Swiss club reportedly paid around CHF1.3m for the defender, meaning a sale at close to €12m would represent a substantial return on their investment.
Hadjam has since established himself as a regular in Switzerland, gaining experience in both domestic and European competition. He has featured in the Champions League and Europa League and has also become part of the Algeria national-team set-up. His profile is that of an attacking modern full-back, comfortable carrying the ball forward and contributing in advanced areas while also offering the physicality required on the defensive side.
The move would continue Brighton’s long-standing strategy of identifying players with significant development potential before their value peaks. The club have already been active this summer, with additions including Luka Vuskovic, Pascal Struijk, Costinha and Zadok Yohanna as Hürzeler builds greater depth across his squad.
Competition at full-back has also increased. Costinha arrived from Olympiacos to strengthen the right side, while Maxim De Cuyper demonstrated his attacking qualities with two goals in Brighton’s emphatic 4–0 opening-day victory over Aston Villa.
Hadjam’s arrival could therefore give Hürzeler greater tactical flexibility, particularly if De Cuyper is used further forward at times during the season.
No official announcement has yet been made by Brighton, but with an agreement understood to be close and a medical expected, the Algerian defender now appears set to become the latest addition to a squad that has once again undergone significant change.
For Young Boys, the deal would represent another profitable piece of player trading.
For Brighton, it looks like another familiar bet on a player whose best years may still be ahead of him.
