Atalanta have turned down an opening bid from Brighton & Hove Albion for young defender Honest Ahanor, making clear they are not willing to part with one of their most exciting prospects on the cheap.

Brighton submitted an offer worth approximately €34 million (£30 million) for the 18-year-old, but the Serie A club rejected it without hesitation, according to transfer expert Nicolò Schira.

A significant gap in valuations

Atalanta are believed to value Ahanor at between €40 million and €45 million — a figure that means Brighton must substantially raise their offer if they want to win the race for his signature.

The Nigerian-born defender arrived in Bergamo only last summer, when Atalanta signed him from Genoa for €20 million. That fee made him the second-most expensive Italian 17-year-old in history, behind only Pietro Pellegri's transfer from Genoa to Monaco in 2018.

A standout debut season

Ahanor wasted no time in justifying that price tag. He made 22 Serie A appearances — 15 of them starts — in his breakthrough campaign, and also featured nine times in the UEFA Champions League and four times in the Coppa Italia.

A versatile operator across the backline, Ahanor has been used mainly on the left side of a three-man defence, though he is equally comfortable as a left-back or central defender in a back four, and has also filled in as a wing-back when required.

Italy recognition follows club form

His rapid rise earned him international recognition earlier this month, when interim Italy head coach Silvio Baldini handed Ahanor his first senior caps. The teenager featured in friendlies against Luxembourg and Greece, cementing his status as one of European football's most coveted young defenders.