Brighton have turned down a £7.5m offer from Rangers for winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, marking the second bid the Scottish Premiership club has had rejected for the 21-year-old. According to the Glasgow Times, reports on 17 August 2026 put the latest offer at around £7m, with talks between the clubs expected to continue.
Cozier-Duberry impressed on loan at Bolton last season, helping the club win the League One play-offs while scoring eight goals and adding 12 assists across 34 appearances, form that earned him a place in the League One team of the season. He has been a regular feature of Brighton's pre-season squad under manager Fabian Hurzeler this summer, though he remained an unused substitute in the club's 1-0 friendly win over Bologna at the Amex Stadium.
How much has Rangers offered, and how does it compare?
The rejected £7.5m proposal would have ranked as Rangers' second-highest transfer outlay in more than two decades. Only the £8m paid last summer for forward Youssef Chermiti stands higher in recent years, while historic fees for Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo in the early 2000s also exceeded this bid.
What is Brighton's position on the player?
Brighton have shown no willingness to let Cozier-Duberry leave on terms below their valuation, and this is not the first offer they have knocked back this window. Brighton previously rejected a separate £5m bid from Belgian side Anderlecht for the winger earlier in the transfer period, according to a football correspondent's report. Reports also suggest the club is keeping him within first-team plans unless a suitable offer is met, with contract discussions said to be ongoing, as detailed by Football Transfers.
Cozier-Duberry has fewer than two years remaining on his existing Brighton deal, though separate reporting from Transferfeed in August states his contract runs until 2028. Interest from Championship clubs over a loan deal also persists alongside the permanent approaches.
Who else is interested in signing him?
Rangers are not alone in pursuing the winger. German club Augsburg and French side Paris FC have also shown interest, according to the Daily Record, a factor that could drive the eventual transfer fee higher than Rangers' current offer.
Why do Rangers need to strengthen their squad?
Rangers snapped a four-match winless run at the start of the season with a 5-1 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. However, the club has already exited the Europa League following a loss to Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok over two legs and now face the Conference League play-offs instead.
New manager Derek McInnes, who arrived from Hearts over the summer, acknowledged after the European exit that his squad required reinforcement, with full-backs and forwards identified as priority areas.
Strengthening defensively, strengthening in wide areas was a priority. But obviously losing a player of Youssef's ability [to an ACL injury], we need to look at that one as well.
What happens next?
Further negotiations between Brighton and the clubs pursuing Cozier-Duberry are expected within the coming days, according to the Daily Record. Meanwhile, Rangers' immediate attention turns to their Conference League play-off tie following their departure from the Europa League.
Key Facts
- Brighton has rejected two bids for Amario Cozier-Duberry this window: £5m from Anderlecht and £7-7.5m from Rangers.
- The winger scored eight goals and provided 12 assists in 34 games on loan at Bolton last season, earning a League One team of the season place.
- Rangers' offer would rank as their second-highest transfer fee in over 20 years, behind the £8m paid for Youssef Chermiti.
- Augsburg and Paris FC are also reportedly interested in signing the 21-year-old.
- Rangers have exited the Europa League and now compete in the Conference League play-offs after losing to Jagiellonia Białystok.
