Gruda had a positive loan spell at RB Leipzig last season Maja Hitij via Getty ImagesJuly 7, 2026 4:02 pm EDT Updated RB Leipzig have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign attacking midfielder Brajan Gruda on loan.The deal for the 23-year-old will also include the obligation to make the transfer permanent if certain conditions are met.The Germany Under-21 international signed for Brighton in August 2024, joining from Bundesliga club Mainz for €31.5million (£26,9m; $35.9m). He made 39 Premier League appearances for Fabian Hurzeler’s side and scored two goals prior to moving back to Germany in February 2026, this time to join Leipzig on an initial six-month loan.Gruda was important to Leipzig’s second half of the season, starting eight games and providing six goal involvements (three goals and three assists) as the club finished fourth and requalified for the Champions League, rebounding from their disappointing 7th-placed finish in 2024-25.Nevertheless, they will now be under new management. Despite last season’s positive outcome, head coach Ole Werner was dismissed in June and has been replaced by Martin Demichelis, the former Manchester City and Bayern Munich defender, who was the previous head coach of River Plate, Monterrey and, most recently, Mallorca, where he was in charge for just 12 league games.Gruda will become Leipzig’s third signing of the summer, following the €20m acquisition of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Rocco Reitz and the addition of Japanese midfielder Ota Yamamoto, who has moved from within the Red Bull network, joining from RB Omiya.