Diego Gomez: How Farming and Lionel Messi Influenced Brighton’s New Signing
Diego Gomez is set to make his mark in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Paraguayan midfielder will officially join Brighton on January 1, coinciding with the opening of the winter transfer window, following an £11 million ($13.9m) transfer from Inter Miami. He is expected to make his debut when Arsenal visits Amex Stadium on January 4.
By then, Gomez will have had a three-week settling-in period. He was introduced to the Amex Stadium crowd before a match against rivals Crystal Palace in mid-December, subsequent to the announcement of his transfer by both Brighton and Inter Miami.
During his time at Inter Miami in 2024, Gomez had impressive stats with 13 goal involvements in 28 appearances (six goals and seven assists), playing alongside stars like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The crucial question remains: what can he contribute to Fabian Hurzeler’s side as they aim for European qualification in the latter half of the season?
Making the leap to a new league in a different country can pose significant challenges for international players. However, Gomez has the advantage of joining Julio Enciso, a close friend, at Brighton, aiding his transition.
Enciso was there to welcome Gomez during a visit to Brighton’s training facility in Lancing. The two share a history as international teammates for Paraguay and former club colleagues in their native land, where Enciso was signed from Club Libertad in 2022.
Gomez excelled in Libertad’s youth academy, playing alongside Enciso when they were just 14. He joined the club in Asuncion after beginning his career with local teams in San Juan Bautista, where he also helped his family on the farm.
He was the top scorer for Libertad’s under-15s team. A serious anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in 2019 did not hinder his progress. Gomez made his first-team debut in May 2022 at just 19, earning his first senior international cap four months later during a 1-0 win over Mexico in Atlanta, Georgia.
He played a key role in helping Libertad achieve two domestic league titles within two years, leading the league in shots, dribbles, and ball progression in his final season before joining Inter Miami on a contract that runs until 2026, with an option for an additional year, in July 2023.
Gomez will officially be a Brighton player from January 1 (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
However, his stay in Florida lasted just 18 months. Now, he is poised to make his mark in the Premier League.
Hurzeler stated at a press conference prior to the 3-1 home defeat to rivals Palace that Gomez would be immediately available for selection in January.
“He has the right attitude towards football,” Hurzeler remarked. “He loves to play. You can feel his passion in every interaction with him. Plus, when you see him in action for Paraguay or when he’s out there with Inter Miami, you can tell he’s driven, ready to give everything for his club,”
“And that’s exactly what we need here. We want players who are passionate about football, who have the right mindset, and are eager to improve every day. That’s something he possesses, and it’s special for a player so young.”
Hurzeler will also consider the fact that Gomez last played on November 10, where he completed the full match in Inter Miami’s upset 3-2 home loss to Atlanta United during the MLS playoffs.
“We’ve already seen instances this summer of how tough it can be for players coming from different leagues to adapt to the Premier League,” Hurzeler noted. “It varies how quickly this happens. It can be fast for some, slower for others, but it’s up to us, the club, and the team to educate him as swiftly as possible. From what I’ve seen so far, he’s open-minded and wants to fit in quickly.”
Off the field, Gomez is characterized as quiet and modest. He speaks softly and often feels awkward when engaging with reporters. Despite not needing a translator during media sessions in Miami (Spanish being the primary language at Inter Miami’s training facilities), journalists often had to lean in closely to catch his whispers.
However, away from the spotlight, Gomez is diligent and courageous. Despite sharing a team with superstars like Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets—all highly decorated with Barcelona—Gomez was recognized by Inter Miami’s then-manager Tata Martino as the goal-setter during training. For Martino, Gomez embodied the essence of football: seizing fleeting opportunities. He trained with determination, as if his next meal depended on it.
Failure at the professional level could affect not only him but also his entire family. Conversely, success could change the lives of Gomez’s loved ones. Joining Inter Miami was the perfect first step for Gomez, a player who had never ventured beyond his hometown until he boarded a flight to the U.S. in the summer of 2023.
Tata Martino says Gomez “needed to open himself up to the world” (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Martino played a pivotal role in recruiting him, leveraging his experience as a former manager of the Paraguay national team. In 2010, he led Paraguay to the World Cup quarterfinals. “(Martino’s) the one who brought me here,” Gómez shared with journalists in Fort Lauderdale in July 2023. “He advised me to play vertically and to pursue goals.”
And he indeed followed this advice, although Gomez started off feeling anxious and nervous. He tended to play hurriedly, and his final touches were sometimes lacking, which caught Messi’s attention on match days. Gradually, he adapted—grasping Martino’s possession-oriented style and the pressing demands of his new role. As Gomez grew more comfortable in MLS and less shy around Miami’s prominent players, his performance and end product greatly improved.
While his statistics may not jump off the page, Gomez recorded four goals and seven assists in 24 regular-season appearances with Miami. When these assists were directed towards Messi and Suarez, the quality of Gomez’s distribution became apparent. In 2024, he really excelled, displaying improved control and a pacing that suited the game.
Whenever he accelerated past a full-back, Gomez showcased the potential of a dual-threat midfielder. His form also transferred to Paraguay’s senior national team, where he became a regular starter in World Cup qualifying matches.
“The Diego Gomez from last July is nothing compared to the Diego Gomez from today,” Martino expressed to The Athletic in August. “What he needed was to broaden his horizons. Transitioning from Libertad to Brighton would have been tougher than from Inter Miami. He had to step away from his comfort zone and the people who had always supported him.”
“One of our main concerns was that he needed to stay with us for the entire season,” Martino continued. “This was critical for him to complete a full season at this level and to further his overall development, especially personally. This was his first experience away from Paraguay, and remaining six more months with us was significant.”
Gomez also had to acquire a new language and “manage his own cooking,” Martino noted. When some visa delays prevented his family from visiting him in Miami, Gomez experienced the isolation that often accompanies international players in a foreign league.
This experience contributed to his resilience and increased his ability to cope with the pressure of performing beside a World Cup-winning captain like Messi. His confidence also grew when he faced journalists post-match, as he began to deflect praise aimed his way.
Playing with Messi helped Gomez learn to handle pressure (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)
“You can now see how Diego’s standing in the team has changed,” Martino noted. “Currently, he enjoys a favorable position within the group.”
Gomez exemplifies the type of player MLS aspires to foster consistently. He arrived in the U.S. with potential, developed it, and now has moved on to a European club in a recognized top-five league. He now stands on the brink of success. The once-timid 20-year-old who couldn’t prepare his own meals is now a dependable senior international and a Premier League addition. In early December, he purchased a new home for his parents in Paraguay.
At the time of this chat, Gomez’s transfer to Brighton was yet to be finalized, but it was nearing completion, and Martino expressed his support.
“If it had been a club in Spain or Italy, he would have chosen that as well,” Martino commented. “Personally, I believe that if the Brighton deal goes through, it is the right fit and league for Diego. If I were to suggest a better opportunity for him, I wouldn’t have one. Brighton is undergoing managerial changes, and I think all these factors will work in Gomez’s favor. Plus, if he concludes this season with us, he’ll have been abroad for over a year, acquiring a new language. He will be better prepared.”
Gomez will face stiff competition for a spot at Brighton. His signing continues a significant midfield transformation following the summer 2023 departures of Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for a British record £115m and Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool for an initial £35m.
Cameroonian international Carlos Baleba, signed shortly after Caicedo’s transfer from Lille for £26m, has excelled this season under Hurzeler. Similarly, Sweden international Yasin Ayari, who joined in January 2023 from AIK for around £5m, has made a strong impression.
Jack Hinshelwood has transitioned to his preferred central midfield role after making a name for himself last season as a right-back. The 19-year-old England Under-21 prospect has thrived and is being touted for senior international selection by Hurzeler.
The departures of Pascal Gross (to Borussia Dortmund), Billy Gilmour (to Napoli), and Mahmoud Dahoud (to Eintracht Frankfurt) during the summer followed a roughly £200m expenditure on nine newcomers, enhancing their midfield capabilities.
Additionally, Matt O’Riley, a £25m summer addition from Celtic, returns to contention in midfield after recovering from ankle ligament damage that kept him out between August and November.
Gomez will join the competition with Mats Wieffer, another £25m summer recruit from Feyenoord, who has yet to showcase his best form but is still highly regarded by Hurzeler.
Moreover, Poland international Jakub Moder along with experienced veteran James Milner, who made appearances in midfield before suffering a hamstring injury at Arsenal in late August, further complicate the midfield competition.
So, where exactly does Gomez fit in? Primarily recognized as a box-to-box midfielder known for his enduring stamina and competitive nature, Gomez recently displayed his scoring ability with a stunning strike past Alisson, leading Paraguay to their first victory over Brazil in 16 years during World Cup qualifying.
DIEGO GOMEZ SCORES A BANGER TO LIFT PARAGUAY OVER BRAZIL! 🇵🇾
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 11, 2024
Gomez is passionate about playing for his country, having made his senior debut two years ago. He led the team to the quarter-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and he was emotional as the national anthem played prior to last year’s opening World Cup qualifying match against Peru.
Hurzeler believes that Gomez’s enthusiasm will be his greatest asset at Brighton: “The most important aspect is the passion he possesses, the energy he brings onto the field,” Hurzeler said. “His approach to personal duels will be instrumental in adapting to the Premier League’s intensity.”
“It’s all about being ruthless in such encounters and winning them, and I believe he has what it takes to be prepared in that regard. That’s the key quality he will contribute to the team.”
(Top photo: James Boardman/BHAFC)
