Coventry City have completed the permanent signing of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton & Hove Albion for a club-record fee reported at £22.5 million. The 25-year-old England Under-21 international returns to the newly promoted Premier League club on a long-term contract after a successful loan spell last season.
Rushworth started all 46 league matches and kept 17 clean sheets to win the Championship Golden Glove as Coventry secured promotion. Brighton negotiated a sell-on clause and buy-back option in the deal, which could rise to £30 million with add-ons. Head coach Frank Lampard welcomed the return of the former Halifax Town player, who had six loans before establishing himself at the CBS Arena.
The signing represents Coventry's fourth addition this summer, eclipsing the £17 million paid for Aurèle Amenda last month. Meanwhile, Aston Villa received clearance from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to register 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo, who had been ineligible since joining from Metz in January due to Fifa regulations on minor transfers.