Brighton appoint former Shakhtar boss De Zerbi

Brighton have appointed Italian Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach on a four-year contract, subject to a work permit.

The 43-year-old former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss agreed final contractual terms late on Sunday afternoon on a deal to succeed Graham Potter, who departed for Chelsea earlier this month.

De Zerbi left Shakhtar last summer, after the Ukrainian league was abandoned due to the invasion of the country by Russia. They had been top of the table before the season was cancelled.

De Zerbi met with club owner Tony Bloom, chief executive Paul Barber and technical director David Weir in London earlier this week and flew into Sussex on Friday night before watching a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Bloom said: "I am absolutely thrilled Roberto has agreed to become our new head coach. Roberto's teams play an exciting and courageous brand of football, and I am confident his style and tactical approach will suit our existing squad superbly."

Weir said: "Roberto has shown his undoubted ability with his work in Italy and Ukraine, and what he achieved at Sassuolo certainly stands out.

"In his short spell with Shakhtar he enjoyed further success, leading the club to cup success and topping the Ukrainian league before the war brought an abrupt halt to his time there.

"We are delighted to welcome Roberto and we look forward to introducing him to our squad as well as providing all the support he needs to introduce his coaching philosophy and help the players continue their brilliant start to the season."

Barber, who is also deputy chairman, added: "We looked at a range of excellent candidates but Roberto was our number one choice from the start and the only person we spoke to.

"It's