Brighton reject £7.5m bid from Rangers for Cozier-Duberry

WHAT HAPPENED
Brighton have turned down a £7.5m offer from Rangers for winger Amario Cozier-Duberry. The 21-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers, was included on Brighton’s bench for the 1-0 friendly win over Bologna but did not play.

Rangers had submitted the bid as they seek attacking reinforcements, but Brighton have instead been linked with alternative wide options and are reported to have other suitors for Cozier-Duberry, including Championship clubs interested in a loan move.

KEY CONTEXT
- Cozier-Duberry enjoyed a productive 2025–26 loan at Bolton: 34 appearances, eight goals and 12 assists, and he was named in the League One team of the season.
- He has under two years remaining on his Brighton contract and has been prominent in Fabian Hurzeler’s pre-season plans.
- Brighton are exploring other winger targets, with Millwall’s Femi Azeez identified as a possible signing before the 3 September transfer deadline.
- For Rangers, a £7.5m payment would rank among their largest fees in over 20 years; the club paid £8m for Youssef Chermiti last summer, while transfers for Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo were larger in the early 2000s.

WHY IT MATTERS
- Brighton’s refusal signals they value Cozier-Duberry more highly than the bid or prefer to retain him for squad depth under Hurzeler. His strong League One campaign on loan suggests he is an asset with sell-on or loan value.
- For Rangers, the rejected approach underlines their urgency to bolster attacking options after losing European ground (eliminated from the Europa League by Jagiellonia Białystok and moved into Conference League play-offs) and following Chermiti’s ACL injury. Manager Derek McInnes has indicated the squad needs reinforcements, particularly in defence and wide areas.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Rangers return with an improved offer or target other forwards or wide players.
- If Brighton will sanction a loan for Cozier-Duberry to a Championship club, or push to complete an incoming wide signing such as Femi Azeez before the transfer window closes.
- How Cozier-Duberry’s role develops under Hurzeler in the early part of the season given his pre-season involvement but lack of minutes in the Bologna game.

KEY FACTS
- Brighton rejected a £7.5m bid from Rangers for Amario Cozier-Duberry.
- Cozier-Duberry scored eight goals and made 12 assists in 34 appearances for Bolton last season and was named in the League One team of the season.
- He has less than two years remaining on his Brighton contract and featured regularly in pre-season under Fabian Hurzeler.
- Rangers were recently eliminated from the Europa League and have moved into Conference League play-offs; they have identified defensive and wide reinforcements as priorities.
- Brighton are also monitoring Millwall’s Femi Azeez, who is viewed as available before the 3 September deadline.