- Brighton must strengthen five key positions ahead of a demanding European season
- Right-back, centre-back and forward depth are among the biggest priorities
- Leadership and experience will need replacing after several departures
European football changes everything for Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls are not entering the summer transfer window needing a complete rebuild, but they certainly have a decent amount of business to get done.
Fabian Hurzeler already has a young, talented squad capable of competing in the Premier League. But balancing domestic commitments alongside UEFA Conference League football presents a very different challenge.
The departures of experienced figures, uncertainty surrounding several key players and the increased demands of a Thursday-Sunday schedule mean Brighton must strengthen intelligently.
Brighton’s goalkeeping situation
Brighton’s goalkeeping situation is one worth monitoring closely.
Bart Verbruggen remains the club’s undisputed number one and has established himself as one of Europe’s most promising young goalkeepers. However, interest from some of the continent’s biggest clubs continues to grow, and a strong World Cup could significantly increase the likelihood of a major offer arriving.
Meanwhile, Carl Rushworth has enjoyed an outstanding spell at Coventry City and there is a very real possibility he repays the faith shown in him by Frank Lampard and the Sky Blues by pursuing a permanent move.
Should Bart Verbruggen and Carl Rushworth both depart this summer, Brighton cannot afford to rely only on the likes of Jason Steele, Tom McGill and James Beadle. They need an established goalkeeper who is not only a good shot stopper, but also comfortable on the ball and involved in build-up play.
The club may never need to activate that contingency plan, but smart recruitment is about preparing before problems emerge.
Strasbourg goalkeeper Robin Risser looks tailor-made for Brighton’s style. Comfortable playing out from the back, composed under pressure and an excellent shot-stopper, Risser possesses many of the qualities Brighton demand from their goalkeepers. At 21, he also fits the club’s long-term recruitment model.
An actual right-back
Brighton paid £25 million for a midfielder with Champions League and international experience. What they have ended up with is a very good emergency right-back. That is not a criticism of Mats Wieffer.
The Dutchman has performed admirably in unfamiliar circumstances and has often been one of Brighton’s most reliable defenders. His work rate, defensive contributions and willingness to adapt have helped solve a major problem.
The issue is that he was never signed to play there.
If Brighton want to compete across four competitions next season, they need to move Wieffer back into midfield where he can have a greater influence on games.
Ferdi Kadioglu already offers attacking quality from the left-hand side, while Maxim De Cuyper provides another adventurous option. The right-back Brighton sign should bring greater balance.
While Brighton continue to be linked with Costinha, Strasbourg’s Guela Doue may offer a more complete profile.
The 23-year-old contributed six Ligue 1 assists last season while also posting impressive defensive numbers. Strong in duels, aggressive out of possession and comfortable progressing the ball, he looks capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch.
Experienced dressing-room leader
This may be Brighton’s most important signing. James Milner has retired. Adam Webster has departed. Solly March is leaving after 13 years at the club. Joel Veltman could also move on.
That is a huge amount of leadership disappearing in one window.
Not every signing needs to improve the starting eleven. Sometimes the biggest impact comes away from the spotlight.
Jack Hinshelwood, among others, has regularly spoken about the influence Milner had around the training ground. Those standards do not replace themselves.
Danny Welbeck remains an important voice, but one player cannot carry that responsibility alone. Brighton need someone capable of walking into the dressing room and immediately commanding respect.
Jacob Murphy’s leadership style is not loud or confrontational. Instead, he leads through professionalism, consistency and work ethic. He has become a respected senior figure at Newcastle United and has been praised repeatedly for his influence behind the scenes.
With only a year remaining on his contract, Brighton could potentially secure an experienced Premier League professional without committing to a huge fee.
READ MORE: Brighton’s Premier League stat leaders from the 2025/26 season – Read Brighton
Van Hecke replacement
The centre-back position becomes increasingly important if Jan Paul van Hecke departs.
Webster has already gone. Igor Julio could leave. Suddenly Brighton’s centre-back depth starts looking thin. Lewis Dunk, Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola represent a solid core, but Conference League football will demand far greater rotation.
Brighton do not necessarily need another starter. They need the next Van Hecke.
Someone capable of playing 15 to 20 matches, developing within the system and stepping up when required.
Eintracht Frankfurt defender Arthur Theate is perhaps the closest stylistic match to Van Hecke currently available. Like the Dutchman, Theate is proactive, aggressive and comfortable progressing possession through central areas. He looks forward whenever possible and actively seeks to break opposition lines.
At 25, he possesses enough experience to contribute immediately while still having room for further development.
Versatile forward
Goals remain a concern. Danny Welbeck enjoyed the best Premier League goalscoring season of his career, but he turns 36 next year.
Kaoru Mitoma has battled injuries. Georginio Rutter has endured injury problems. Stefanos Tzimas arrives with fitness concerns of his own. Diego Gomez has also spent time sidelined, while Yankuba Minteh continues to attract transfer interest.
Brighton do not necessarily need a traditional number nine. They need someone capable of contributing goals from multiple positions. Someone who can play across the front three and potentially operate as a number ten.
That’s where Spanish forward Yeremay Hernandez comes in. The Deportivo La Coruna star enjoyed an outstanding campaign in La Liga 2, registering 11 goals and 10 assists.
Comfortable on either flank and capable of drifting centrally, Hernandez possesses the versatility Brighton should be targeting.
His creativity, dribbling ability and chance creation numbers suggest there is even more to come. At 23, he also fits perfectly within Brighton’s preferred recruitment profile.
Squad depth will be crucial across four competitions
Brighton do not need a squad overhaul. They need to prepare for the realities of European football.
Every one of these positions becomes more important because Brighton are no longer building for one game a week. They are building for a season that could stretch beyond 50 matches.
Get these decisions right and the Seagulls will not only be ready for Europe, but also to compete on multiple fronts.
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