Brighton may have unearthed another gem, this time their impressive recruiting net has landed Diego Gomez.
Although not yet officially announced, the £11 million ($14 million) deal with Inter Miami was reportedly completed in the summer and following the conclusion of the MLS season, 21-year-old Gomez will head to the south coast of Britain in January travel.
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It was a disappointing end for David Beckham-owned Inter Miami as they were surprisingly eliminated by Atlanta United in the first round of the MLS playoffs. But for Gomez, it was a year of breakthrough and progress on a personal level.
When 20-year-old Gomez left his native Paraguay to join Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, he came to play alongside one of his football idols: Lionel Messi.
What surprised him most was not Messi’s obvious abilities, but his personality off the pitch. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took the time to ask Gomez about his family life and settling into his new home.
Just over a year later, it’s clear that Messi and his team helped Gomez get the big move under control. The midfielder broke through immediately and had such an impressive first MLS season that his time in the USA is now coming to an early end.
Next up is an even bigger move, this time to the Premier League to Brighton, but the success of his previous away trip will give the adaptable Gomez confident he can be the latest in the long line of relatively unknown talents to emerge in the Premier League can be successful South Coast.
Who is Gomez and what could he bring to the Seagulls?
Gomez began his career with Paraguayan club Libertad in 2022, coming through the youth team before playing 51 games for the senior national team, winning two league titles. His six goals and four assists convinced Miami to take the plunge on the rising star, and he quickly repaid their trust.
He played 22 MLS games this season, scoring three goals and only making another appearance due to an ankle injury that sidelined him for nearly two months.
However, Gomez shone even more on the international stage. With eleven appearances to his name, Gomez leads a talented young group with Paraguayan potential.
After making his senior national team debut at the age of 19, Gomez captained the Paraguay under-23 team at the 2024 South American pre-Olympic tournament that would decide qualification for the Games in Paris last summer.
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Gomez’s nation finished second in their group, behind only Argentina, and advanced to the second group stage of the best remaining four teams.
Gomez scored two goals in his three games, including a memorable 1-0 win against Brazil and a 3-3 draw against Argentina. By winning the final game against Venezuela, Paraguay were crowned champions and secured their place at the Olympic Games at the same time.
This was only the third qualification in their country’s history and was concrete evidence of the new wave of Paraguayan football, led by their U23 captain and the tournament’s top scorer, Diego Gomez.
However, the rise did not end there.
Gomez’s continued impressive form for club and country earned him a place in Paraguay’s senior team for September’s World Cup qualifiers against two of South America’s giants – Uruguay and Brazil.
It was an opportunity for both Gomez and the young core of this rebuilt national team to show that their Olympic success was a sign of things to come rather than a fluke, and they did not disappoint.
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Gomez in particular showed multiple sides of his game. Against Uruguay, Gomez anchored the midfield in a more defensive role as Paraguay impressively fought to a 0-0 draw away to Uruguay.
Four days later they went one step further, beating Brazil 1-0 thanks to a stunning goal from Gomez. With 20 minutes left, the ball fell to Gomez outside the penalty area after a Paraguayan corner. With one touch, Gomez was able to gain control of the ball and shift the ball to the left before firing a shot from outside the post into the net.
If Gomez needed a coming out moment to the larger world, this was it. A huge goal against a huge opponent, and in serious style.
The MLS playoffs proved disappointing for Gomez, as he started all three games of Inter Miami’s failed mini-series against Atlanta. However, his impact was already felt when he won the league’s best player under 22 award.
Meanwhile, he continues to enjoy success on the international stage. Just last week, Gomez scored an assist as Paraguay defeated another giant of the continent, this time Argentina 2-1.
A combative midfielder, Gomez has often been praised for his tenacious pressing, while his keen goal-scoring ability makes him a unique threat when breaking the ball from deep areas and to the edge of the penalty area.
He has been compared to both Chelsea hero N’golo Kante and his teammate Sergio Busquets, further highlighting his versatile skills and ability to excel on both sides of the ball.
Injuries have been the only real question mark for Gomez and should Brighton complete the signing as expected, Paraguayan football expert Raphael Hannah believes the Seagulls will get a bargain.
“Is he worth $30 million? This may be due to his unique characteristics and his ability to play in a high-pressing team,” Hannah told TransferMarkt.
“Former coaches and teammates say Diego Gómez is extremely calm off the field, but on the field he leads by example.
“As an attacking midfielder in the style of a number 8, he can win the ball high up and create chances for himself and others. A true all-rounder, he led the league in shots, dribbling and ball control from central midfield in his final season at Libertad. The question mark is his fitness and whether he can maintain his intense style at the top.
While it will undoubtedly take some time to get used to the intensity of the Premier League, Gomez has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to adapt to new situations and thrive. Perhaps Brighton has found another hidden gem.