Brighton and Hove Albion CEO Paul Barber has confirmed that Napoli’s initial bid for Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour was rejected and indicated that there have been no further discussions on the matter.
Gilmour, a product of Chelsea’s youth academy, joined Brighton in 2022 and quickly established himself as a regular Premier League starter. He also featured in all three of Scotland’s group stage matches at Euro 2024.
Reports surfaced on Saturday that Napoli had made an offer of approximately €9.5 million for Gilmour, aiming to add him to Antonio Conte’s new project on the Italian coast. Conte had previously worked with Gilmour during their time at Chelsea.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Barber addressed Napoli’s interest, stating, “We have not received any new proposals from Napoli. We have declined their initial offer. Billy is a crucial player for us, and we are very eager to keep him. He is an exceptional talent and a valuable presence in our squad.”
Barber also acknowledged that interest in their players is part of the process and that Brighton must navigate these situations as they progress. Gilmour is contracted with Brighton until June 2026 and played 2,926 minutes across 41 matches last season.