Brighton have added further depth on the left side of defence, confirming the signing of Jaouen Hadjam from Swiss champions Young Boys on a contract running until June 2031, subject to regulatory processes being completed.
The 23-year-old arrives in England with a proven track record in Switzerland, having made 98 appearances across domestic and Europa League competition since joining Young Boys from Nantes in January 2024. Reports on the fee vary, with figures ranging from around £9.5m to closer to €13m depending on the outlet, though Brighton have not confirmed the exact terms.
Sporting director Mike Cave welcomed the signing: "We believe Jaouen will be a great addition to the group, adding to our already strong options in defence.
"He is a modern left-back known for his pace, attacking output and technical abilities which fits our style of play well.
"He has proven himself to be a versatile player in Switzerland and we are looking forward to working with him."
Hadjam's route to the Premier League has taken in three countries. He made his professional debut with Paris FC in 2020, before a move to Nantes in 2023 brought his first taste of Ligue 1 football. His switch to Young Boys the following year proved transformative, with the left-back quickly establishing himself in both domestic and European competition in Bern.
Born in France, Hadjam represented the country at youth level through the under-17s and under-19s before switching his international allegiance to Algeria in 2023, a decision that has since brought him 21 caps for Les Fennecs.
He featured for Algeria at this summer's World Cup, playing in the group-stage matches against Jordan and Austria as well as the round-of-32 tie against Switzerland — the country where he had just spent the previous two and a half years of his career.
The move makes Hadjam the latest in a growing list of Algerian internationals in the Premier League, following in the footsteps of players including Manchester City's Rayan Aït-Nouri, and adds further competition for places in Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton squad ahead of the new season.