Brighton sign record-breaking Poland midfielder Kacper Kozlowski

Brighton have signed the Poland midfielder Kacper Kozlowski, who last summer became the youngest player to play at a European Championship. The 18-year-old has joined from Pogon Szczecin for £8m on a contract to June 2026 but will go straight on loan to the Belgian club Royale Union St-Gilloise.

Kozlowski made history when, aged 17 years and 246 days, he came on for Poland against Spain at Euro 2020, breaking a record set less than a week earlier by England’s Jude Bellingham.

Related: Men’s transfer window January 2022 – all deals from Europe’s top five leagues

“His style of play suits us and our style,” said Brighton’s manager, Graham Potter. “During my time here, we have done very well in recruiting players for the future and Kacper is a similar signing.

“He will initially head out on loan, as it is important for him to continue his development, and he is keen to continue playing regularly. We will be watching with interest, as he is a very exciting young talent.”

Kozlowski made his first-team debut for Pogon aged 15 years and 215 days as a last-minute substitute and has played six times for Poland. He was unable to train for almost six months from January 2020 after suffering injuries, including to his spine, in a car crash.

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Bournemouth are set to beat off Premier League competition to sign Fleetwood Town’s James Hill. The England Under-20 defender, who was called up to the England Under-21 squad last year before having to withdraw through injury, attracted numerous bids in this window amid interest from elite clubs across Europe, with Barcelona sending a scout to watch the 19-year-old in November.

But Bournemouth are poised to land the centre-back, whose father, Matt, played for Bristol City and Preston. The fee will represent a Fleetwood club record, surpassing the £1.25m they received for Jamie Vardy in 2012. Hill will undergo a medical on Wednesday and is set to be joined at Bournemouth by the Manchester United full-back Ethan Laird, who excelled for Swansea during the first half of the season. Laird is expected to join on loan. Bournemouth allowed the experienced centre-back Steve Cook to join Nottingham Forest on Tuesday after a decade at the club.