As with any summer, the focus at Brighton and Hove Albion is on player departures. Since rejoining the top flight at the start of the 2017/18 season, the Seagulls have impressed doubters by remaining in the Premier League and challenging for European places.
Along the way, Brighton have developed top-class players who have subsequently left for so-called bigger clubs in the division. The trend has continued this year, with Joao Pedro the latest to be lured away.
Brighton have thrived by adequately replacing those departures with other top signings, so how does the club’s summer dealing rank this time around? Who is on their way to the Amex with a bright future lined up on the south coast?
Prospects for 2025/26
The 2024/25 Premier League season was another positive one for Brighton. The team finished in an impressive eighth place, although it would have been disappointing to miss out on the Europa League places. The Seagulls ended the campaign strongly, and there is another platform for the squad to build on.
When Brighton first came to the Premier League in 2017, they were among the favourites for instant relegation. Newly promoted clubs generally tend to struggle in the top flight, and that trend has increased in recent campaigns.
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, Premier League betting shows the Seagulls among the genuine contenders for European football. A qualifying place in the Europa Conference League or the Europa League is a legitimate target for Fabian Hurzeler and his squad, and here are the new faces looking to guide Brighton next term.
Strengthening in Defence
It’s a sad fact that high-profile departures from the Amex Stadium means that Brighton’s new signings tend to go under the radar. Maybe that’s how the fans prefer it; new acquisitions come in quietly, and don’t immediately attract the attention of Chelsea and others.
With Lewis Dunk reaching the veteran stages of his career, there was a need for reinforcements in defence. The standout acquisition in this area of the pitch is Olivier Boscagli. The French under 21 international is a versatile player, capable of featuring at left back or at the heart of defence.
He arrived on a free transfer from PSV, but Boscagli should get plenty of game time for his new club. Brighton have also signed the promising goalkeeper, Nils Ramming from Frankfurt. At age 18, he’s inexperienced, but will be targeting the number one position at the Amex in future years.
Wing Wonder
Tom Watson’s last act as a Sunderland player was to score the goal that took the club back to the Premier League. He became an instant hero, as he fired the winner in the playoff final, but fans were disappointed as his transfer to Brighton was confirmed shortly afterwards.
Watson’s most famous strike will naturally grab the headlines, but he isn’t a regular goalscorer. His record at Sunderland is modest, with three goals from 24 games across all competitions. Tom Watson will, however, offer an option down the flanks, and at age 22 he may be one for the future.
Goal Grabber
At 18, new signing Charalampos Kostoulas is even younger than Tom Watson, but he may just get more game time this season. Evan Ferguson’s career hasn’t developed as the club would like, and with the Republic of Ireland international expected to leave this summer, Brighton need a replacement.
Kostoulas impressed in his first full campaign for Olympiacos, scoring seven league goals in 22 matches. He may start matches at Brighton from the sub’s bench, but the Greek under 21 international will enjoy some game time as the new season develops.
The summer transfer window remains open for a few more weeks, and it’s likely that Brighton will do more business before it slams shut. The club may well want more experienced players to replace Evan Ferguson and Joao Pedro, and it will be fascinating to see what happens next.
The players that have arrived could be considered as typical Brighton signings. There are no big names on the list, and that will allow them to go under the radar of other clubs while they bed in and develop. Fans will sit back and trust Brighton’s recruitment policy that has already produced so many impressive acquisitions in the Premier League era.
It’s inevitable that some reports will continue to suggest that Brighton’s first target is to avoid relegation. Club supporters, and intelligent football fans, will be aware that the side is way beyond that stage. European football has been a genuine target for the Seagulls in recent years, and this season should be no exception.
For a club to survive so many top rated departures, among both the playing squad and the coaching staff, is seriously impressive. Brighton know how to bounce back, and the new arrivals look set to make this another positive campaign.
