The lowdown on Chema Andres

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Midfielder joined us on five-year deal from VfB Stuttgart on deadline day.

Richie Mills

2026-09-04T19:00+01:00

Chema Andres made 41 appearances for Stuttgart last season. 📸 by James Boardman.

Chema Andres is a "special" talent who combines the technical skills of coming up through Real Madrid's academy and the physicality of a robust Bundesliga midfielder.

That is according to German football expert Keven Bader, who believes that the 21-year-old can flourish at Brighton after signing a five-year deal from VFB Stuttgart.

The defensive midfielder spent seven years at Madrid before joining Stuttgart a year ago. In that time, the towering No 6's anticipation, high footballing IQ and technical qualities were plain to see.

Fotbollskanalen journalist Bader said, "Brighton fans can expect a very smart defensive midfielder, who has also played higher up in central midfield.

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"He does not just run around making heavy tackles. He reads the game well, stays calm when opponents press him and controls the speed of the match with his passing.

"He is very tall, which makes him great in the air for both defending and attacking corner kicks. He is also very good at keeping the ball and making strong forward passes to start attacks.

"He has to use his smart positioning to stay out of trouble instead of relying on speed. But he is special because he combines great technical skills from Real Madrid's academy with a very strong physical body.

"He did amazingly well at Stuttgart. They bought him for just €3 million in 2025, and he played 41 games, helping them easily qualify for the Champions League."

Chema Andres has represented his country up to under-21 level. 📸 by James Boardman.

Last season, the youngster - who held his own in Stuttgart's Europa League campaign - scored four goals and added two assists in all competitions.

Compared to other Bundesliga midfielders, he was in the top five per cent for defensive contributions and aerial duels won. And while Madrid allowed him to leave for a small fee, Los Blancos knew he had potential.

Bader said, "Real Madrid’s coaches rated him highly but with established stars like Aurelien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde dominating the midfield, his path to the first team was blocked."

So, the big question is, will he be able to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League? Bader certainly has high hopes for him and the fact that he had such a good reputation at the German team in a relatively short period of time may bode well for him and Brighton.

"For the fans, he quickly became a favourite. They loved him because he always played with great calm and was a huge bargain," he said. "They saw him as the reliable rock in midfield who helped the team succeed.

"The manager, Sebastian Hoeneß, trusted him completely. Hoeneß likes his teams to control the ball and build up play from the back, and Chema was the perfect player for that system. He was viewed as a very mature, smart, and important player for his age.

"He is a perfect match for how Brighton likes to keep the ball and play out from the back. The Premier League is very fast, which will test his speed at first, but his high football IQ will help him adapt."