Brighton has made enquiries about Atalanta centre-back Honest Ahanor, with valuations of around £30 million circulating in media reports. The 18-year-old has been on an extraordinary trajectory since debuting at age 16, and his rapid ascent has now attracted serious Premier League interest.

Atalanta only signed Ahanor from Genoa on 4 July 2025, paying €16M plus an additional €4M in performance-related bonuses. Brighton’s reported valuation would represent a near-doubling of that investment in roughly a year.

Who is Honest Ahanor?

Born on February 23, 2008, Ahanor is a centre-back who has already earned recognition with Italy’s U21 national team. He’s also eligible to represent Nigeria at the senior international level.

At 18, he commands a market valuation of around €30M according to Transfermarkt. His debut came at 16 in Serie A.

Brighton’s transfer strategy at work

The enquiry reportedly emerged during discussions involving Brighton representatives in Milan, as covered by Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport. No official bid has yet been made.

Why Atalanta won’t make this easy

Atalanta has expressed reluctance to part with Ahanor. The club spent €16M, potentially rising to €20M with bonuses, to sign him just last summer.

Reports suggest the valuation Atalanta would consider falls in the €30–40M range, which aligns roughly with Brighton’s reported interest at the lower end.