The Saudi Pro League side had submitted a €65 million (£54.42m) bid for Mitoma, expecting negotiations to continue. However, Brighton firmly rejected the offer and reiterated that they had no plans to part with the 27-year-old, regardless of any further bids.
Additionally, Brighton believed that Mitoma himself was not interested in leaving the Amex Stadium, reinforcing their decision to keep him. As a result, Al-Nassr have now accepted that a deal will not be possible. The Saudi Pro League transfer window closes on Friday evening, giving the club limited time to explore alternative options.
Since arriving from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in 2021, Mitoma has made 92 appearances for Brighton, scoring 18 goals across all competitions. This season, he has been a key player, featuring in all 23 of Brighton's Premier League matches. The club, currently ninth in the table under Fabian Hürzeler, secured Mitoma's future with a contract extension in October 2023, keeping him at the club until June 2027.
Meanwhile, Al-Nassr have shifted their focus to Aston Villa's Jhon Durán, who is set to undergo a medical in London ahead of a proposed permanent move to the Saudi club. Villa and Al-Nassr have agreed on a deal worth €77 million (£64.5m) plus add-ons for the 21-year-old Colombian forward. Personal terms have also been settled, with Durán expected to sign a five-and-a-half-year contract.
If the transfer is finalized, Al-Nassr will no longer pursue Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.
At the same time, Villa are dealing with interest in Ollie Watkins from Arsenal. The Gunners made an approach for the England international earlier in the week, but Villa quickly rejected their inquiry, viewing Watkins as a crucial part of their plans.
Durán, who joined Villa from Chicago Fire in January 2023 for a fee of up to £17.75 million, has scored 12 goals in 29 appearances this season, despite starting only seven times. In total, he has netted 20 goals in 78 matches for the club.
Currently sitting fourth in the Saudi Pro League, Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are eight points behind leaders Al-Hilal and second-placed Al-Ittihad. Their squad includes high-profile players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Aymeric Laporte.
