Transfer rumour · archive

Igor Julio to Schalke

Quiet since 3 July 2026. Last report: Dirk große Schlarmann. Probability when it went quiet: 14%.

Brighton are yet to hand Igor Julio a release, but Schalke are edging closer to a loan deal for the 28-year-old Brazilian defender. The two clubs are still talking structure: Schalke want a loan with an option to buy, and those conversations are described as imminent rather than concluded. The player himself is already on board with the move, which removes at least one obstacle from the path. Both reports come from Dirk große Schlarmann, a well-regarded German source who covers Schalke closely and carries strong credibility. This is a single-outlet story at present, corroborated by nothing from the Brighton side, so treat the detail as informed but not yet fully confirmed. With Brighton still to grant permission and the fee structure unresolved, this one sits firmly against the odds for now. The player is willing and Schalke are interested, but Brighton hold a contract that runs to June 2027 and a market value of roughly €11million, which gives them every reason to hold firm until the terms suit them. The absence of a release makes this fragile. Schalke have a track record of operating in this valuation range. Their €11million purchase from Mainz in 2018 and a €8million signing from FC Nantes in 2017 show the club are comfortable recruiting at the level Igor Julio occupies. A loan-plus-option structure would let them avoid committing to his full value upfront, which is consistent with how they have approached similar signings. The key trigger to watch is whether Brighton grant that release. If they do, formal loan talks can begin immediately. If a rival club enters with a p

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