Roberto De Zerbi will leave Brighton at the end of the season by mutual agreement - despite repeatedly claiming this month that he intends to stay. 

He will depart the club following their final match of the campaign against Manchester United on Sunday, the club have confirmed. 

De Zerbi joined Brighton in September 2022 after Graham Potter left for Chelsea and led them to a highest-ever sixth-placed finish last season.

He steered them to the last 16 of the Europa League this season in their first ever continental venture and they place 10th in the Premier League.

Speculation over his future has persisted for months and he is the top target for Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl, as reported by BILD.

Roberto De Zerbi will leave Brighton at the end of the season, the club have confirmed

Bayern are reportedly making him a top target to replace Thomas Tuchel after Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, and Ralf Rangnick snubbed them. Their former Champions League-winning boss Hansi Flick is also in the running. 

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De Zerbi appeared to have quashed rumours of his exit earlier this month when he insisted he would 'love' to stay at Brighton. 

That came amid discussions over his future with chairman Tony Bloom and he claimed he could even stay for 20 years.

'I think I would like to stay in Brighton because I love my players. I love this city. I love my club, my fans,' De Zerbi said.

'I said in the meeting with the fans, if I'm happy, there isn't any club [that] can bring myself to change a team but I want to keep my passion always.

'When I work in one club I feel the work as if it is my club and I work thinking to stay 15 years. Maybe I can leave tomorrow, but when I am working at one club, the passion I put in, the attitude, the behaviour is to stay in that club 15, 20 years.'

Then, just a few days ago, he told Italian outlet Bobo TV: 'I feel good in England, in the Premier League and I have no intention of leaving. There is no team that can change my mind, I have made a commitment. I like being outside and experiencing the atmosphere of the stadium.'

De Zerbi has been linked with top jobs around Europe all season - including Bayern, Manchester United, Liverpool, and AC Milan. 

His attractive style of football paired with results at club historically resigned to the lower leagues was always going to attract attention. 

Members of his backroom team in Andrea Maldera, Ricard Segarra, Marcattilio Marcattilii, Vincenzo Teresa, Agostino Tibaudi, Marcello Quinto and Enrico Venturelli will all leave with him. Coaches Andrew Crofts and Jack Stern will stay at Brighton. 

In a statement on the club's website, he said: 'I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons. 

'We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values. 

'I have really enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season. 

'Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my future plans.' 

Bloom, Brighton's chairman, said: 'Roberto has given us two excellent seasons of service in which he has led the club to new heights, not least our first ever European campaign which will live long in the memory of Albion fans.

'We have mutually agreed to end Roberto's contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future.

'I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully deserved send off at the Amex before, during and after tomorrow's match.

'In the meantime, I'd like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons. They all leave our club on good terms and with our very best wishes for the future.'