Tuesday 22 May 2018 17:37, UK
Brighton have signed Nigeria international defender Leon Balogun.
The 29-year-old joins from Bundesliga side Mainz on a free transfer and is the Premier League club's first signing of the summer.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton said: "I am delighted to welcome Leon to the club. He will add more depth to our defensive options, and I am pleased to get our first piece of business done so early in the summer.
"He is in the peak years of his career and I am sure he will integrate well into the squad.
"He also has valuable experience, having played in the Bundesliga, the Europa League and at international level."
The 6ft 3in Berlin-born defender has played for Hannover and Werder Bremen. He joined Mainz in July 2015 where he made 58 appearances.
Balogun has played for Nigeria 14 times and is eligible to play for them through his father.
He missed out on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil because of injury but he has been named in the preliminary 30-man squad for this year's tournament after helping them to qualify.
