Frank Lampard has made the 25-year-old his priority target following Coventry's promotion to the Premier League, with Rushworth expected to complete his return to the club later this week after a medical scheduled for the next 48 hours.
Add-ons and instalments could push the total package towards £30m, with Brighton having inserted both a sizeable sell-on clause and a buy-back option into the deal. Rushworth's path to Coventry City has not been entirely smooth: the Seagulls turned down two earlier bids, reportedly worth £20m and £25m, before the two clubs found agreement, and the goalkeeper is understood to have made his preference for a return to the CBS Arena clear even amid interest from Newcastle and Leeds.
Rushworth emerged as one of Coventry's most important players last season after arriving on an initial loan, keeping 17 clean sheets in 46 matches as Lampard's side won the Championship title with 95 points and secured a first return to the top flight since 2001. His form also earned him the EFL Championship's Golden Glove award.
Released by Huddersfield Town as a 16-year-old before working his way up through spells at FC Halifax Town's academy and non-league Worthing after signing for Brighton in 2019, Rushworth's rise to a club-record fee represents a rapid turnaround in fortunes.
He will become Coventry's fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Amenda, winger Loum Tchaouna from Burnley and midfielder Frank Onyeka, whose move from Brentford was made permanent.
Lampard, who signed a new long-term contract with the club earlier this month having rebuffed managerial interest from elsewhere, is targeting further additions with the backing of owner Doug King as Coventry prepare for a daunting return to the top flight, starting with a trip to champions Arsenal on August 21 before hosting fellow promoted side Hull City the following weekend.