Coventry have broken their transfer record by completing the £22.5m purchase of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton, as Frank Lampard’s squad prepare for their first Premier League campaign in 25 years.
The 25-year-old impressed during his loan spell with Coventry in the Championship last season. He played a crucial part in their title-winning promotion campaign, starting every one of their 46 league games and claiming the Golden Glove after recording 17 clean sheets.
Lampard, whose team open their season away to Arsenal on 21 August, expressed his delight at bringing Rushworth back permanently. He praised the goalkeeper’s professionalism, personality and major contribution to last season’s promotion, adding that he was eager to work with him again.
Rushworth is highly rated by officials within the Football Association and England’s national setup. He moved to Brighton from non-league Halifax in 2019 but left without making a senior appearance. Before joining Coventry on loan, he gained experience at several levels of English football with Walsall, Lincoln City, Swansea and Hull.
Brighton sporting director Mike Cave said the club would have preferred Rushworth to remain longer but accepted his wish to secure regular Premier League football. The agreement is believed to include a sell-on clause and a buyback option, while add-ons could increase the total fee to £30m.
Rushworth is Coventry’s fourth addition of the summer. The club set a new transfer record last month by paying Eintracht Frankfurt £17m for Switzerland defender Aurèle Amenda, while Loum Tchouna and Frank Onyeka have also joined. Before Amenda’s transfer, Coventry’s highest fee was the £7.7m paid to Antalyaspor for Haji Wright in 2023.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have welcomed the court of arbitration for sport’s decision to approve their appeal over the registration of 17-year-old forward Brian Madjo. Born in London and raised in Luxembourg, the teenager arrived from Metz in January but was initially unable to play because of international rules governing transfers involving minors. After scoring four goals during pre-season, Madjo is now eligible to represent Villa.
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