Brighton and Hove Albion’s efforts to sign David Mella from Deportivo de La Coruña have inadvertently pushed him into signing a new deal at the LaLiga 2 club.
That’s according to La Opinión a Coruña, who report that the 19-year-old has now signed a new deal at the Spanish club after ten months of negotiations were ‘accelerated’ Brighton.
They explain that Depor are about the announce that Mella has signed a new contract at the club, a major boost given they almost lost him in the summer.
That was because Brighton pushed to sign him in the transfer window, making several bids and, according to some reports, tempting him with wage offers that would have seriously increased his salary.
Deportivo were ‘tied hand and foot’ by that but fortunately for them Mella said no to Brighton and decided to stay where he was. Days later he was a European Under 19 champions and a star in the final.
Because of that refusal to Brighton and his subsequent performance for the U19s, Deportivo ‘stepped on the accelerator’ to make an effort and tie the player down to 2028 or 2029.
An understanding was reached a few days ago and now all that remains is for the final details to be worked out, documents exchanged and then announced.
It’s very much a ‘happy ending’ for Mella and Deportivo, who appear to have stepped up their efforts to strengthen their relationship after Brighton tried to tempt him away.
