Premier League 2025-26 Preview: Brighton

Faith in young manager Fabian Hürzeler and a revamped defense gives hope for a sustained push for a European spot.

Last season's position: 8th

Brighton & Hove Albion in Brief

Premier League, First Tier

9 years

€593.60 million

35 players

25.2 years

27 (77.1%)

19

AMEX Stadium (31,876 seats)

+€41.70 million

Prospects

Although Brighton once again missed out on European competition, a sense of optimism rather than disappointment was palpable at the end of Fabian Hürzeler's first season at the helm. Had it not been for a costly loss of form in the spring, which saw them collect just one point from four league games and lose to Nottingham Forest on penalties in the FA Cup quarter-finals, the German head coach might even have matched his predecessor Roberto De Zerbi's achievement of finishing sixth.

Despite a season-long wave of injuries to key players and several new signings from a summer spending spree of nearly £200 million struggling to settle in, it is to Hürzeler's credit that his team finished just one point shy of Brighton's 2023 points record, after closing the campaign with three wins. As chairman Tony Bloom put it, now that the Premier League's youngest-ever permanent manager has gained a year of experience, "we are hoping for more next season."

Brighton scored 66 goals—the fifth-highest in the league—so much will depend on strengthening a defense that conceded 59. The focus this summer is on finding a long-term replacement for veteran captain Lewis Dunk, who is entering the final year of his contract. Italian U21 center-back Diego Coppola, along with Olivier Boscagli, who arrived on a free transfer from PSV, and exciting Belgian left-back Maxim De Cuyper, are joining as Hürzeler hopes to build a more stable unit.

The departure of João Pedro, who became the latest Brighton player to transfer to Chelsea, is offset by the signing of the highly-rated 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas. His fellow Greek U21 international Stefanos Tzimas and Sunderland's playoff hero Tommy Watson will provide more attacking options for a squad that still includes the outstanding Kaoru Mitoma despite transfer rumors and looks equipped to continue a sustained push for a European place. Brighton will start the league season against Fulham in the first round.

The Manager

Hürzeler pours his heart and soul into his work and has become popular with Brighton fans following the departure of the beloved De Zerbi. In an interview with British GQ in April, the 32-year-old manager said he loves watches and Coldplay but never sits down in front of the TV because "there are so many better things to do."

"I'm a big believer that the limit for our body is really high, and I think we don't always try to push our limits," he said. Brighton's players should be well-prepared for the start of the season in that case.

Off-field Picture

After a record-breaking 2022-23 that yielded profits of £112 million, Brighton announced a £73.3 million profit in March—largely a result of another large chunk from the British record sale of Moisés Caicedo to Chelsea. João Pedro's departure for £60 million helps to balance the books after last summer's massive outlay made them the biggest net spenders in Europe. Bloom, who bought 29% of the Scottish club Hearts in June, is estimated to have invested more than £400 million at his home-town club since becoming chairman in 2009. In April, the long-serving chief executive, Paul Barber, committed his future to the club until 2030.

Star Signing

Much is expected of Kostoulas after Brighton saw off interest from several other clubs, including Chelsea, to snap him up for an initial fee of almost £30 million that could rise by a further £2 million, making him the most expensive Greek player in history. He is represented by the same agent who took Giannis Antetokounmpo to the NBA, and he became the youngest player to make a professional appearance for Olympiakos B team at 15 years and seven months before he was part of the side that won the prestigious UEFA Youth League last year. Kostoulas will learn plenty from the evergreen Danny Welbeck, who finished as last season's joint top scorer and turns 35 in November.

Who Will Step Up?

Bart Verbruggen, who Hürzeler preferred in goal last year after a strange rotation with Jason Steele, made several costly errors. Nonetheless, a recent survey by the Swiss research group CIES Football Observatory identified the 22-year-old Dutchman as potentially the world's most valuable goalkeeper with a projected fee of £54 million. Verbruggen, who joined Brighton from Anderlecht for £16 million in 2023, will need to show more consistency to retain Hürzeler's faith, despite the fact that England U21 goalkeeper James Beadle was allowed to join Birmingham on loan rather than provide more competition for the Netherlands international.

The Squad

Based on the latest data, Brighton's squad structure shows even more clearly that the club is focused on quality and long-term development. Particularly striking is the massive reliance on young talent, who already have significant market value, while the depth of the squad is also guaranteed by more experienced players.

The defense has indeed been seriously strengthened, which is reflected in the squad's value. The 25-year-old Jan Paul van Hecke, with a value of €32 million, is one of the team's most valuable defenders, and he is joined by the outstanding Olivier Boscagli and Igor, both valued at €20 million. In the center of the defense, veteran Lewis Dunk leads the younger guard, and on the wings, talents like the €25 million-rated Ferdi Kadıoğlu are pushing forward. The midfield also has immense potential: Carlos Baleba, with a €40 million value, is the team's most valuable player, but young players like Jack Hinshelwood and Yasin Ayari also represent significant value. In contrast, 39-year-old James Milner provides stability and experience, which is invaluable in such a young squad.

The attacking line is a real strength for the team. On the wings, there's the outstanding Kaoru Mitoma (€40 million), whose retention was crucial, along with other young players who already have significant value, such as Yankuba Minteh (€30 million) and Brajan Gruda (€25 million). At center-forward, 23-year-old Georginio Rutter (€32 million) is the first-choice option, but behind him are the extremely young, just 19-year-old Stefanos Tzimas and 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas, who could be the stars of the future. All of this is complemented by the experience of 34-year-old Danny Welbeck, who was one of the top goalscorers last season and can continue to play an important role. This attacking section is clearly one of the most exciting in the league.

We are curious to see what this likeable team can achieve. Will they repeat last year's performance, or can they even move higher up the table?