[SPOTV News — Reporter Shin In-seop] Tariq Lamptey — once a bright prospect at Brighton & Hove Albion — has had his contract with Fiorentina terminated by mutual consent after logging just 25 minutes of game time.
UK tabloid The Sun reported on May 12 (Korea time) that Lamptey’s deal with Serie A side Fiorentina was ended after only 25 minutes on the pitch. He had joined the Italian club last summer from Brighton for £5 million (about ₩10 billion; roughly $7.5 million).
Lamptey was once viewed as one of England’s most promising young fullbacks. A product of Chelsea’s academy, he moved to Brighton to pursue first-team football and made his Premier League debut in the 2019–20 season, establishing himself at right-back.
He grew into a useful option for Brighton, injecting the attack with blistering pace and dangerous crosses. But at 163 cm (about 5 ft 4 in), his lack of height often limited his effectiveness in the physical demands of the Premier League.
Injuries further narrowed his role. He managed just 15 league appearances in the 2024–25 season as fitness issues curtailed his availability. Last summer he left Brighton for Fiorentina in search of a fresh start.
But injuries followed him to Italy. Lamptey made his Fiorentina debut as a late substitute against Napoli, then started the club’s fourth-round match against Como 1907 before being forced off in the 22nd minute with an injury.
The diagnosis was serious: a torn anterior cruciate ligament that required a lengthy layoff. Despite intensive rehabilitation, he did not return before the season ended. The Sun noted Lamptey wore the Fiorentina shirt for only 25 minutes, and that, despite signing a three-year contract, both parties agreed to terminate the deal.
That leaves Lamptey expected to become a free agent this summer, though his history of long-term injuries could make it difficult for him to find a new club.
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