There’s a player at Brighton & Hove Albion right now who trained alongside Lionel Messi at 20 years old, was voted the best young player in all of MLS at 21, and marked his first full Premier League season by scoring four goals in a single EFL Cup game. His name is Diego Gomez, and if you haven’t been paying attention yet, you’re going to want to start.
Born Diego Alexander Gómez Amarilla on 27 March 2003 in San Juan Bautista, Paraguay, Diego Gomez plays as a midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League and represents the Paraguay senior national team. He’s 23 years old. He’s just getting started. And the trajectory he’s on is the kind that gets football fans genuinely excited about what comes next.
From San Juan Bautista to Copa Libertadores Debut
Diego Gomez didn’t come through the academies of Europe’s elite. He began his career at football school Club 24 de Junio in his hometown before moving to the ranks of Club Libertad, where he quickly attracted attention due to his skills.
Gomez made his senior debut for Libertad on 4 May 2022 against Caracas FC in the Copa Libertadores. He made his league debut against Club Olimpia shortly after, where he was sent off but despite that rocky start, he became a regular in the centre of midfield for Libertad by June 2022. In August 2022 he scored his first senior league goals, netting twice against Club 12 de Octubre SD.
That’s the kind of CV that gets scouts paying close attention: a 19-year-old starting Copa Libertadores games and already scoring league goals for one of Paraguay’s biggest clubs. Gomez was awarded the best under-19 player award by Paraguayan news organisation Versus in 2022, which only added to the buzz around him.
The Inter Miami Chapter: Playing Alongside Messi and Suárez
On 20 July 2023, Gomez signed with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami for an undisclosed fee. The timing was significant this was the same summer Lionel Messi announced his blockbuster move to South Florida. The acquisition of Diego Gomez via MLS’s Under-22 Initiative was one of the first moves Miami made to build around their new star recruit, and it ended up being one of the most successful to date.
After navigating a steep learning curve in his first months at Inter Miami, Gomez struck up a potent chemistry with Messi and Suárez in particular during the 2024 campaign, so often making the smart off-ball runs by which their superlative vision unlocks defenses.
The numbers backed it up. In 2024, Gomez topped the prestigious MLS 22 Under 22 list voted on by coaches, general managers, sporting directors, and media, having tallied three goals and seven assists in 18 league matches. He led all MLS players in Points per Match at 2.39, and Miami were unbeaten in 17 of the 18 matches in which he played, with a record of 13 wins, one loss, and four draws.
That 2024 season saw Inter Miami win their first-ever Supporters’ Shield by securing the MLS single-season points record of 74. Gomez contributed three goals and seven assists in 19 appearances as part of that record-breaking campaign.
The Brighton Move: A Record-Breaking Transfer
On 10 December 2024, Gomez agreed to join Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion on 1 January 2025 until 30 June 2030, in a deal believed to be worth about £14 million. For context, that figure made it one of the biggest outgoing transfers in both MLS and Paraguayan football history.
He made his official debut on 19 January 2025 in a 3-1 win against Manchester United. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to the Premier League. By the end of the 2024-25 season, he netted his first Premier League goal in a 4-1 away win over Tottenham Hotspur on the final matchday.
Then the 2025-26 season arrived, and Diego Gomez truly announced himself.
Four Goals at Barnsley and a Premier League Breakthrough
The moment everyone noticed came in September 2025. On 23 September 2025, Gomez scored four goals in Brighton’s 6-0 away win against Barnsley in the third round of the EFL Cup, becoming the first Brighton player in 16 years to score four goals in a single game. Gomez himself said he’d never even scored a hat-trick before that night, let alone four.
The season has kept building from there. In Gameweek 10 of the 2025-26 Premier League, Gomez scored twice as Brighton defeated Leeds United 3-0, with both goals assisted by Yankuba Minteh. It moved him to seven goals in all competitions for Brighton at that point in the season, and he was narrowly denied a hat-trick by a fine one-handed save late on.
As of the 2025-26 Premier League season, Gomez has made 32 appearances, scored five league goals, and ranks second in Brighton’s squad for goals in the league.
By the time he reached 50 appearances for Brighton in March 2026, Gomez had scored 11 goals for the club across all competitions since his January 2025 arrival. Only Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck had scored more for Brighton in that same period.
What Makes Him So Good? The Playing Style Breakdown
Diego Gomez is the kind of player that defenders genuinely hate facing, and that coaches love selecting. Listed at 185cm and 77kg, he plays primarily as a central midfielder but has been deployed across multiple positions including defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, and winger.
Brighton’s head coach Fabian Hurzeler has praised Gomez’s two-way contribution specifically, noting that he can come into the middle, stay wide, attack the box, and get into goal-scoring positions while also being disciplined at tracking back.
The defensive output stands out on the data too. Only Ismaila Sarr, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Bryan Mbeumo are the only Premier League midfielders to put up higher sprint distance numbers per match in 2025-26 than Gomez. That work rate is not cosmetic, it’s central to how Brighton press and regain possession.
Former Inter Miami Chief Soccer Officer Chris Henderson compared Gomez’s acceleration to that of Claudio Reyna and his ability to get out of tight spaces to Tab Ramos, saying his change of pace is deceptive; he doesn’t immediately look quick until he’s suddenly past people.
International Career: Scoring Against Brazil
Gomez has been a key figure for Paraguay across multiple age groups. In February 2024, he captained the Paraguay U-23 team at the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, finishing as the joint top goalscorer with five goals as Paraguay won the tournament and qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
At senior level, the defining moment came on 10 September 2024. Gomez scored his first senior international goal in a 1-0 victory over Brazil in Paraguay’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. Scoring against Brazil in a World Cup qualifier at 21 years old is the sort of thing that cements a player’s status back home and gets the wider world to pay attention.
As of late 2025, Gomez had made 21 appearances for the Paraguay senior national team and scored two international goals.
Diego Gomez Career Stats at a Glance
| Club | Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Club Libertad | 2022 | Senior debut season | 2+ | — |
| Inter Miami CF | 2023-2024 | 39 | 7 | 7 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Jan 2025-present | 50+ | 11 | — |
Sources: Inter Miami CF official, FotMob, FBref, Brighton & Hove Albion official (stats as of mid-2026; figures may update).
What’s His Market Value?
According to Transfermarkt, Diego Gomez’s current market value sits at €25 million — a significant rise from the roughly £14 million Brighton paid for him in January 2025. Given his age, his contract runs until 2030, and his upward trajectory in the Premier League, that figure could keep climbing.
In EA FC 26, Gomez carries a potential rating of 83, suggesting that even the game’s data models see him as a player still well short of his ceiling.
FAQ: Diego Gomez
What position does Diego Gomez play?
Gomez is a versatile midfielder who can play as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder, attacking midfielder, or winger. Brighton have used him across several of these roles depending on the game situation.
How much did Brighton pay for Diego Gomez?
The deal was believed to be worth approximately £14 million, making it one of the largest outgoing transfers in MLS history at the time.
Did Diego Gomez play with Lionel Messi?
Yes. Gomez played for Inter Miami from July 2023 to December 2024, which overlapped with Messi’s time at the club. He scored and created goals alongside both Messi and Luis Suárez during the 2024 MLS season.
Is Diego Gomez in the 2026 World Cup squad?
As of June 2026, Paraguay are actively competing in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, and Gomez is a key figure in the national team. Check Paraguay FA’s official channels for the most current squad information.
Where is Diego Gomez from?
He was born in San Juan Bautista, Paraguay, on 27 March 2003.
At 23, Diego Gomez already has a Copa Libertadores debut, an MLS championship, four goals in a single game at Premier League level, and a goal against Brazil on his CV. The question now isn’t whether he belongs at Brighton, it’s how long before Europe’s biggest clubs start making calls.
Read More About: Diane Addonizio
