Premier League 2025-26 Preview No 5: Brighton

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 8th (NB: this is not needfully Ed Aarons’ prediction but nan mean of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 8th

Prospects

Although Brighton missed retired connected qualifying for Europe again, location was a consciousness of optimism alternatively than disappointment astatine nan extremity of Fabian Hürzeler’s first play astatine nan helm. Had it not been for a costly nonaccomplishment of shape successful nan outpouring that brought 1 constituent from 4 convention games and a defeat by Nottingham Forest connected penalties successful nan past eight of nan FA Cup, nan German caput coach mightiness moreover person matched his predecessor, Roberto De Zerbi’s accomplishment of finishing sixth.

After a raft of injuries to cardinal players each play and pinch respective signings from a summertime spending spree of almost £200m struggling to settle, it was to Hürzeler’s in installments that his squad ended only 1 constituent short of Brighton’s grounds points tally from 2023 aft 3 wins to information disconnected nan campaign. Now, successful nan words of chair Tony Bloom, pinch nan youngest imperishable Premier League head having gained a year’s experience, “we are hoping for much adjacent season”.

Brighton scored 66 goals – nan associated fifth-highest successful nan section – truthful overmuch will dangle connected strengthening a defence that conceded 59, pinch nan accent this summertime connected uncovering a semipermanent replacement for nan seasoned skipper Lewis Dunk arsenic he enters nan past twelvemonth of his contract. Diego Coppola, an Italy Under-21 centre-back, and Olivier Boscagli, who arrived connected a free transportation from PSV, will beryllium joined by nan breathtaking Belgium left-back Maxim De Cuyper arsenic Hürzeler hopes to build a much settled unit.

The departure of João Pedro, who became nan latest Brighton subordinate to subordinate Chelsea, has been offset by nan signing of nan highly regarded 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas. His chap Greece Under-21 world Stefanos Tzimas and Sunderland’s playoff leader Tommy Watson will supply much attacking options for a squad that still includes nan outstanding Kaoru Mitoma contempt speculation he could depart and looks equipped to support a sustained push for Europe.

The manager

Hürzeler is guaranteed to deterioration his bosom connected his sleeve and has proved a deed pinch Brighton’s supporters aft nan celebrated De Zerbi’s departure. In an question and reply pinch British GQ successful April, nan 32-year-old revealed that he loves watches and Coldplay but ne'er sits down successful beforehand of nan tv because location “are truthful galore amended things to do”. “I’m a large believer that nan limit for our assemblage is really high, and I deliberation we don’t ever effort to push our limits,” he said. Brighton’s players should beryllium good prepared for nan commencement of nan play successful that case.

Brighton caput coach Fabian Hürzeler is nan youngest head successful nan Premier League. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

Off-field picture

After a record-breaking 2022-23 that yielded profits of £112m, Brighton announced a £73.3m profit successful March – mostly a consequence of receiving different ample chunk from nan British grounds waste of Moisés Caicedo to Chelsea. João Pedro’s departure for £60m will thief to equilibrium nan books aft last summer’s monolithic outlay made them nan biggest nett spenders successful Europe. Bloom, who bought 29% of nan Scottish nine Hearts successful June, is estimated to person invested much than £400m astatine his home-town nine since becoming chair successful 2009. In April, nan long-serving main executive, Paul Barber, committed his early until 2030.

Star signing

Much is expected of Kostoulas aft Brighton saw disconnected liking from respective different clubs, including Chelsea, to threat him up for an first interest of almost £30m that could emergence by £2m to make him nan astir costly Greek subordinate successful history. Represented by nan aforesaid supplier who took Giannis Antetokounmpo to nan NBA, he became nan youngest subordinate to make a master quality for Olympiakos erstwhile he represented their B squad astatine 15 years and 7 months, earlier he was portion of nan broadside that won nan prestigious Uefa Youth League past year. Kostoulas will study plentifulness from nan evergreen Danny Welbeck, who vanished arsenic past season’s associated apical scorer and turns 35 successful November.

Stepping up

Bart Verbruggen, having strangely alternated pinch Jason Steele nether De Zerbi, was preferred betwixt nan sticks by Hürzeler past play but nan Dutchman made respective costly errors. Nonetheless, a caller study by nan Swiss investigation group CIES Football Observatory identified nan 22-year-old arsenic perchance nan world’s astir valuable goalkeeper pinch a projected interest of £54m. Verbruggen, who joined Brighton successful 2023 from Anderlecht for £16m, will request to show much consistency to clasp Hürzeler’s faith, though nan England Under-21 goalkeeper James Beadle was allowed to subordinate Birmingham connected indebtedness alternatively than supply much title for nan Netherlands international.