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AC Milan have completed their fourth signing of the summer transfer window, with Pervis Estupinan joining from Brighton.
With Theo Hernandez heading to Al-Hilal, it has been known for some time that Milan needed a new starting left-back. A move for Archie Brown collapsed right at the last minute as Fenerbahce swooped in, and then the management turned to Estupinan.
By the Rossoneri’s standards, the operation was completed relatively quickly and without it developing into a saga. He was announced as a new signing on Thursday morning, and – according to report – the deal closed under the €20m mark.
As Milan’s first Ecuadorian player, Estupinan has already made history in some way. Can he really be the heir to Theo? Rohit Rajeev’s analysis takes a deeper look at what to expect.
Back story
Estupinan’s story begins in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, but his footballing journey started five hours away, where he would start with LDU Quito. The reasoning, his uncle played there, and the club opted to give the then 13-year-old defender a chance.
It only took four years for him to get into the first team, and he made his professional debut a few days after his 17th birthday. From here, he established himself quite quickly, and this was the case internationally too.
However, it could have potentially been a little differently, as Sussex Live relayed words from Esteban Paz, one of Quito’s directors.
“There was a rule back then that we needed to play at least one half of a game with a youth team player. I think the coach saw back then Pervis had the quality to play and after a while, he played because of his quality, rather than the rule. He developed better qualities, matured, and that made his exposure bigger.”
With this, he quickly found himself in the Ecuadorian U17 team set-up and after just 45 games for Quito, he moved to Italy with Udinese, for a fee of around €500k, per Transfermarkt.
However, he was immediately sent on loan to the Spanish first division on loan with Granada. Again, though, he was not given the chance to impress and only played twice in the senior team. Instead, playing most of his minutes for the club’s B team.
A first step into European football, but certainly not one to inspire much.
In the following season, he moved to Almeria, and this is where he got his professional break, as the Spanish outfit took a chance on him. As they battled against relegation, the Ecuadorian assisted twice, as he established himself as a starter in Spain.
Despite their struggles, the defender was brought to Mallorca in the following season, and the club achieved promotion back to La Liga with the help of the South American as he scored three times, assisting twice too.
Promoted alongside Mallorca was Osasuna, where he played 36 times, the most in a league season to date. Again, he continued to improve, as he made seven contributions in the Spanish top flight. Leading to his permanent move away from Udinese – whom he never made an appearance for.
After arriving for a few hundred thousand, the Italian club sold the defender for €17 million, a huge profit and a testament of his ability.
With Villarreal he took things to another level, playing 33 times in his first season and winning the Europa League. Whilst his place was not exactly cemented, he continued to show his talent in the chances he was given.
In the season that followed, his minutes grew yet again as he played 41 times mainly across the La Liga, the Champions League. However, he failed to hit the numbers which he did in his first season in the Spanish top-flight, with Unai Emery preferring a more defensive role for the Ecuadorian.
Following his second year with Villarreal, he moved to Brighton, who were on their own path of progression. Taking a place in Roberto De Zerbi’s backline, the defender established himself as one of the best full-backs in the division.
In fact, this lead the Italian coach to comment on his future, and the praise was somewhat significant.
“I have to admit that Pervis is one of the most important players for us because he started out as a left-back, but you can also find him as a striker. He’s very intelligent; I think that’s one of our secrets.
“He’s improved his first touch and passing, but I’m always pushing him further. If he gets his first touch and passing skills right, I think he can become one of the best left-backs in the world.”
Estupinan ended his first season in England with 10 contributions, eight coming in the Premier League, as Brighton qualified for the Europa Leaue, showing the direction which the club were going in.
However, the season that followed was marred with injuries as he missed 21 games due to muscle injuries. Unfortunately, this story continued into last year, where he missed a similar numbers of games yet again.
An ankle injury at the back end of the 2023/24 campaign saw him miss 17 games, though he returned from the injury room at the end of August, allowing him to return for Fabian Hürzeler‘s team for the season ahead.
Again, there were a few injury concerns at the start of 2025 with another muscle injury. Something that certainly provides a little bit of doubt with his future, especially considering the Rossoneri’s luck with injuries.
Strengths and weaknesses
Although Estupinan lacks Theo Hernandez’s height, he compensates with a strong, compact frame, allowing him to muscle opponents off the ball and hold his ground effectively in physical duels.
Interceptions are a key aspect of Estupinan’s game, showcasing his tactical intelligence and ability to read opposition movements, allowing him to disrupt play and regain possession effectively.
He possesses an impressive passing range, enabling him to break lines and initiate attacking sequences from deep positions. Additionally, he demonstrates excellent vision and accuracy in delivering crosses, frequently finding teammates inside the box.
Estupinan possesses an impressive passing range, enabling him to break lines and initiate attacking sequences from deep positions. Additionally, he demonstrates excellent vision and accuracy in delivering crosses, frequently finding teammates inside the box. pic.twitter.com/RoMHQU941s
— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 24, 2025
In this sequence, Trent Alexander-Arnold bypasses Brighton’s horizontal press with a vertical pass into Salah. Recognising the threat, Estupinan quickly steps out of his defensive line to press Salah, a proactive move that helps Brighton regain possession.
In this sequence, Trent Alexander-Arnold bypasses Brighton’s horizontal press with a vertical pass into Salah. Recognizing the threat, Estupinan quickly steps out of his defensive line to press Salah, a proactive move that helps Brighton regain possession. pic.twitter.com/gLvSl8I1Vh
— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 24, 2025
Even when caught out of position, the 27-year-old possesses the pace and awareness to execute quick recovery tackles, often neutralising potential threats before they fully develop.
Even when caught out of position, Estupinan possesses the pace and awareness to execute quick recovery tackles, often neutralizing potential threats before they fully develop. pic.twitter.com/OchCu5ZeTG
— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 24, 2025
Estupiñán also advances high up the pitch to compress space, effectively reducing the opposition’s playing area and supporting Brighton’s horizontal pressing structure.
Operating as an attacking full-back, Estupinan also displays solid 1v1 defensive ability, holding his own against modern, pace-driven attackers.
Operating as an attacking full-back, Estupinan also displays solid 1v1 defensive ability, holding his own against modern, pace-driven attackers pic.twitter.com/zTiRIop0tG
— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 24, 2025
When building out from the back, Estupinan provides width to stretch opposition defensive lines, creating passing lanes and space for progression. In this instance, he positions himself wide to receive from Lewis Dunk, effectively pulling Liverpool’s compact mid-block apart.
In other times you can see him position himself inside to break the opposition press. Martial has cut off the square passing option for Dunk but Estupinan positions himself closer to Dunk and while Dunk baits Martial to press him.
Dunk quickly passes to Estupinan who receives the ball under pressure and makes a quick switch to the other CB who can drive forward with the ball without any opposition. And mostly he has the tactical sense to understand when to make a vertical pass.
In other times you can see him position himself inside to break the opposition press. Martial has cut off the square passing option for Dunk but Estupinan positions himself closer to Dunk and while Dunk baits Martial to press him, Dunk quickly passes to Estupinan who receives the… pic.twitter.com/WGLF94qMda
— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 24, 2025
Estupinan in this sequence vacates space and pull his marker with him creating a passing lane for Dunk to Mitoma.
Full back Winger Interactions.
Estupinan in this sequence vacates space and pull his marker with him creating a passing lane for Dunk to Mitoma. pic.twitter.com/4wDVrxWTUE
— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 24, 2025
In one such sequence Estupinan and Mitoma combined through a third man combination as Mitoma stayed wide allowing the left-back space to run through the half spaces and therefore combining through with a third man run.
In one such sequence Estupinan and Mitoma combined through a third man combination as Mitoma stayed wide allowing Estupinan space to run through the half spaces and therefore combining through with a third man run. pic.twitter.com/zS8qoCzHrr
— Rohit Rajeev (@keralista) July 24, 2025
Estupinan is a player who plays as an attacking full back very similar to how Theo played for us. This means that space would be open at the back with the space vacated by Estupinan to attack. This leaves a huge hole at the back.
Estupinan also has a habit of being out of position at times. Here we can see Antony in a dangerous position in the half space ready to attack.
Injuries have been a big problem for Estupinan in the past couple of seasons. Since the start of 2023-24 – as per Transfermarkt – the defender has missed 43 games for club and country combined due to various issues.
Three of the four long-term absences (30 days or more) are listed as ‘muscle injuries’ while he had an ankle problem that kept Jim out from April to the end of August in 2024, which was 140 days in total. Staying fit is the first battle, before performance levels come into things.
Statistical comparison
The most logical thing to do is to compare Estupinan to his predecessor Theo Hernandez, to try understand in which areas he will be an upgrade versus a downgrade.
➤ Chance Creation (GCA & xG Chain): Theo contributes more directly to goal-creating actions (0.43 vs 0.27), but Estupiñán is more involved in overall attacking moves leading to shots (xG Chain 0.60 vs 0.45).
➤ Progression (CPA & Progressive Passes+Carries): Estupiñán is ahead in Carry and Pass Advancements (CPA 1.48 vs 1.13) and slightly ahead in overall progressive involvement (8.95 vs 7.84).
➤ Defensive Actions (Tkl+Int & Recoveries): Estupiñán excels in duels (3.3 vs 2.52) but Theo recovers more loose balls (7.27 vs 6.41)
Conclusion
Estupinan is a modern full-back who combines defensive intelligence with attacking versatility. He is strong in duels, sharp in interceptions, capable in recovery tackles, and progressive in buildup play.
His tactical awareness in pressing and synergy with wingers make him a complete two-way option. The former Villarrela man is a solid player with great potential to do well in Serie A, but comparing him to Theo feels unfair.
Estupiñán should be judged on his own qualities essentially, not through Theo’s shadow, and staying fit will be a big part of how he is judged.
Transfer rating: 7/10
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