Brajan Gruda is poised to rejoin RB Leipzig from Brighton & Hove Albion in a loan deal that includes a mandatory purchase clause, according to Sky Germany. The 22-year-old attacker spent the latter half of last season on loan with the Bundesliga club and is currently in Leipzig, with officials expressing confidence he will join training on Monday.
The financial terms of the agreement will see Leipzig initially take Gruda on loan, but the deal is structured with an obligation to buy ranging between €25 million and €30 million. This arrangement allows Leipzig to spread the cost of the transfer while Brighton secure a guaranteed fee for the player.
Gruda initially signed for Brighton from Mainz 05 in January 2023, but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Roberto De Zerbi. He made just five Premier League appearances for the Seagulls before being loaned to Leipzig in January 2024, seeking more consistent first-team football.
During his initial loan spell at Leipzig, Gruda made a positive impact, featuring in 14 matches across all competitions. He registered three goals and three assists, demonstrating his potential to contribute offensively. His performances reportedly impressed Leipzig’s coaching staff, leading them to pursue a permanent deal.
RB Leipzig are bolstering their attacking options ahead of the upcoming season, aiming to improve upon their fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga last term. The permanent acquisition of Gruda provides coach Marco Rose with another versatile forward capable of playing in multiple positions. Brighton will look to reinvest the funds from Gruda's sale into strengthening their own squad, continuing their strategy of developing and trading players.
