of brighton The interest in Joao Cruz is not a recent development. In fact, the latest reports from Brazil suggest that Premier League club Athletico Paranaense are tracking the 2025 youngster.
We recently covered The Brazilian claims the 20-year-old midfielder was on Brighton's radar. Now additional information emerging from the country indicates that the Seagulls' scouting department has been tracking him for over a year.
according to RTI gameBrighton first began following Joao Cruz during Athletico's second division campaign in 2025. They have continued to assess his progress since then.
The report stated that scouts identified several attributes in line with Brighton's recruitment model, including his ability to play in various midfield roles, his intensity out of possession and his quality when helping to create attacks.
long term monitoring
The latest claims fit Brighton's established recruitment model. The RTI report states that Brighton have maintained regular monitoring of the player. Furthermore, he continues to receive positive evaluations from scouts following his development in Brazil.
The midfielder is capable of playing in multiple central roles and has earned praise for his passing range, work rate and tactical flexibility. Those qualities have helped keep him on Brighton's list of potential future targets.
And of course, Joao Cruz still has significant room for growth and future resale potential. But despite continued interest, Athletico are under no pressure to sell.
João Cruz signed a contract extension lasting until February 2028. The Brazilian club took the step to protect itself against increasing attention from abroad. According to the report, his release clause for foreign clubs is €60m (£51m).
Athletico are said to also believe that the midfielder's value could continue to increase if he remains part of their project. This means that if Brighton are to test the Brazilian side's resolve they will need to take a significant step beyond scouting.
The report specifically states that there is a belief within the club that Joao Cruz still has plenty of room to increase his market value. This will happen before any final sale is considered.
At the moment, there is still no sign of any formal proposal. Instead the latest information suggests that Brighton's interest is long-term, organized and ongoing, rather than the result of a recent scouting trip or a sudden emergence in the market.
