Julio Enciso, the Paraguayan player and the promise of the Premier League

Brighton & Hove Albion have completed negotiations with Julio Enciso before the transfer window closes. The Paraguayan has been promised a fee of £9.5m from Libertad de Asunción.

The 18-year-old striker attempted to sign for the Seagulls in January, but as so often happens in football, the deal fell apart at the last minute. The English club then immediately swooped for him this summer.

Despite his advanced age, manager Graham Potter has made several statements praising the Paraguayan. Initially, he hinted that Enciso would be part of the attack next season rather than being loaned out. He pointed out the youngster’s exciting talent and his excellent start to his Paraguayan career, in addition to the fact that he is a regular in the Paraguayan team despite his young age.

He also stated that he is a youngster going abroad for the first time and that must be taken into account, so he stated that they will help him adjust to his new surroundings and settle in at Brighton & Hove Albion. In addition, he noted that everyone in the dressing room is eager to help him develop and work with him, which will complement his current attacking options this season.

Julio Enciso was subsequently sent to the Under-21 national team, with head coach Potter claiming that he was sent to the “reserve team” to learn about English football, but making it clear that the player belonged in the team’s main lineup.

Club reception and current progress

Wearing the No. 11 jersey, Julio Enciso quickly adapted to the second team of the Premier League, Brighton, and played a few games. The Paraguayan striker made his first public appearance in a Brighton jersey and scored his first goal for the new team against Liverpool. Enciso made his debut in the previous game against Crystal Palace, which ended in a 2-3 defeat.

However, the Paraguayan showed his skills in the draw against the Reds on the second day. The former Libertad player made his debut with a few minutes left in the game and opened the scoring for the Seagulls, but Stewart equalized three minutes later.

A few weeks later, Enciso made his debut with the first team in a cup match. The Paraguayan was willing to announce it in front of the media and said that he was happy with his debut because they advanced to the next round thanks to his cooperation. Although he did not score, he continued to grow in confidence and the team won 3-0 thanks to the assist of the Paraguayan.

Despite the good results and hard work, the boy said he is trying his best and he has also experienced moments of anxiety. However, he noted that the references and the team have been helping him. He also talked about his process of adapting to England and its football, as both the country and the sport are completely different from everything he knew in Paraguay.

He was happy with his performances in the youth team and in his first match with the first team, and felt the support of the fans cheering him on. In fact, he commented that he saw a fan in the stands holding a Paraguayan flag during his debut and gave him his jersey. Currently, he is eager to get more playing time, grow as a footballer and continue learning. According to him, he feels more comfortable on the left or behind the center on the pitch, but he guarantees that no matter what position they put him in, he will do everything possible to stand out.

The trajectory of the “Pearl” Paraguay

Julio was not yet of age when he made his Paraguayan debut. At 17, he came on as a substitute against Bolivia and from that point on his importance only grew. At just 15, he made his debut for Libertadores and at 16, he became the second-youngest player to score in the Copa Libertadores against Jorge Wilstermann, and a few months later he became the second-youngest player to score in the Copa Libertadores.

There is no doubt that Brighton has shown great talent in finding promising young stars like Julio Enciso. The Paraguayan player could follow in the footsteps of midfielder Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian player has a similar career to Enciso, having signed in the 2021 winter market and has become one of the best weapons for the English club after half a season on loan. Hopefully, Julio can do the same.