Brighton & Hove Albion have locked down Portuguese right-back Costinha on a five-year contract, prying the 26-year-old away from Olympiacos in a deal reportedly worth between £9 million and £11 million. The signing, announced on June 15, 2026, continues the south coast club’s well-documented habit of identifying European talent before the rest of the Premier League catches on.
For a club that finished eighth in the 2025-26 Premier League season and secured a Conference League berth, this is exactly the kind of move that keeps Brighton punching above its weight class.
Who is Costinha?
Full name João Pedro Loureiro da Costa, the defender was born on March 26, 2000, and made his name in Portuguese football before heading to Greece. He joined Olympiacos from Rio Ave on July 9, 2024, and quickly established himself as a regular starter in the Greek Super League.
Over two seasons at Olympiacos, Costinha racked up 49 total appearances. His 2025-26 campaign alone accounted for 36 of those, which tells you he became increasingly important to the club’s setup as time went on.
