Martial becomes free agent as Brighton secure Yohanna and eye Gakpo

Anthony Martial has mutually terminated his contract with Mexican club Rayados, rendering the French striker a free agent. The development was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano on 6 June 2026, marking the end of Martial’s tenure with the Mexican side.

In a separate transaction, Brighton & Hove Albion have secured the signing of Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm. The club paid a fee of £21.5 million for the player, who has signed a contract running until June 2031. Romano noted that Brighton won the race against four other clubs to secure Yohanna’s services.

Meanwhile, speculation is mounting around Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo. According to a report from Transfer News Live, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is keen to sign the Dutch forward. The report indicates that Gakpo is open to leaving Anfield following the departure of Arne Slot, with whom he reportedly shared a special relationship.

De Zerbi is described as a long-time admirer of Gakpo and is reportedly working on a strategy to facilitate the move. However, the report from Transfer News Live, a social media aggregator, should be treated as a report of a report rather than a confirmed fact, particularly regarding the specifics of the manager’s strategy.

The timeline for Arne Slot’s departure from Liverpool is not explicitly detailed in the source material, though it is cited as a factor influencing Gakpo’s stance. The exact nature and timing of Slot’s exit require verification against broader club news to fully contextualise the player’s potential availability.

These developments highlight a period of significant movement in the transfer market, with established players like Martial seeking new opportunities and ambitious clubs like Brighton expanding their squad through strategic acquisitions and targeted interest in high-profile talent.