Brighton and Hove Albion have agreed to sign an international striker, 25-year-old Florin Andone, from the Spanish club Deportivo la Coruna.
Albion said that Andone would join for an undisclosed fee but Sky, The Sun and others have reported that the Romanian international’s transfer would cost £5.25 million.
Reports said that he had a £17.5 million release clause in his Deportivo contract but the Spanish side’s relegation from La Liga led to it being cut.
Andone moved to Spain from Romania at the age of 12 after his father died in a car crash. He didn’t play football for three years.
His debut in the Spanish top flight came in January 2015 for Cordoba when he was 21 years old.
In the past season he netted against Valencia, Villarreal and Deportivo’s Galician rivals Celta Vigo, among others, to notch up seven goals.
Brighton said: “The Romania international will officially join the club on a five-year contract once the transfer window opens for international transfers on (Friday) 8 June.
“The 25-year-old forward made 69 appearances across two seasons for Deportivo, scoring 18 goals.”
Manager Chris Hughton said: “We are delighted that Florin has agreed to join us. He is a player that we have tracked for some time and he will add a new dimension to our attacking options.
“He is a very hard-working player and has proven his quality at the highest level in Spain as well as at international level. I am looking forward to working with him next season.”
Andone made his senior debut for the Spanish side CD Castellon before signing for Villarreal in 2013.
After a spell on loan to Atletico Baleares in the 2013-14 season, Andone moved to Cordoba in July 2014
He scored 27 goals in 58 games for the Andalusian club before joining Deportivo in July 2016.
He has won 21 caps for Romania, making three appearances in the 2016 Euro Championships.
