Brighton & Hove Albion Summer 2023 Transfer Window Round Up

Before the summer 2023 transfer window closed, Roberto De Zerbi summed up how Brighton approach their business better than anyone else could.

“It is normal for Brighton to sell players,” the Albion head coach said said. “The most important thing for Brighton, is not to keep the most important players, but to find their replacement. This is the right work we have to do.”

Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister left for Chelsea and Liverpool respectively. Their places have been taken by in the squad by Carlos Baleba and Joao Pedro, whilst Billy Gilmour and Julio Enciso (before injury) stepped almost seamlessly into the starting XI.

Selling for profit and replacing with other young players with potential is certain to continue for the next few windows. Interest is likely at a minimum in the services of Evan Ferguson, Pervis Estupinan, Karou Mitoma and Enciso over the coming year.

The table below shows the senior squad as it stands and the loans that have been agreed to date. There could yet be further movement with both Steve Alzare and Andi Zeqiri expected to leave imminently with transfer windows in other nations still open.

Thanks to the significant versatility of both DeZerbiBall and the squad, Brighton have a minimum of three senior player capable of covering each position – although Baleba is currently the only player naturally suited to a pure defensive midfield role.

Other options
Whilst the window has closed in England, it still has several days to run in Saudi Arabia and some European countries. As already noted, that may see Alzate and Zeqiri move on.

Zeqiri is said to be close to a move to KRC Genk in Belgium for a fee of just over £2 million. Having not been included in the Albion squad for the US Tour and with only nine months left on his contract, Zeqiri appears to have no future at the Amex.

Alzate meanwhile has been linked with a move to Trabzonspor. The Turkish window does not close until September 15th, giving plenty of time for that deal to be concluded.

When asked about Alzate’s future, De Zerbi said: “Unfortunately it is difficult to have more than two players in every position.”

“I spoke this morning and last week with him. But if he stays, I will not forget him. We will play a lot of games and I think Alzate can become important during the season.”

The loans listed above show that many of the strongest players from the development squad have moved elsewhere for the season.

It may be no coincidence that two of the more flexible development players – Imari Samuels and Jack Hinshelwood – remain with Brighton.

Samuels main position is left back but he can cover across the defence. Hinshelwood has been used across the back four in pre-season alongside his usual midfield roles, where he can play as both a holding and more attacking midfielder.

In January, 18-year-old winger Adrian Mazilu joins from Constanta in Romania for a reported £2.5 million. Watch him on YouTube and Mazilu looks an exciting talent with goals and assists in his locker reminiscent of Mitoma.

Goalkeepers
It remains to be seen how the rotation plan between Jason Steele and new singing Bart Verbruggen plays out. Plenty of clubs take the approach of having designated league and cup goalkeepers, but it is very unusual for a manager to pledge a 50-50 split of matches across all competitions.

De Zerbi said of his goalkeeping choices in pre-season: “They will play depending on the opponent, depending on the physical condition, but I believe in Bart the same way as Jason. They will play 50 percent of the games this year. We are lucky to have in our squad two great goalkeepers.”

Meanwhile the three goalkeepers out on loan – Carl Rushworth, James Beadle and Kjell Scherpen – have all been the starting keeper for their respective temporary clubs so far this season.

Defenders
Igor Julio has had limited game time to date, leaving it too early to pass judgement on him. Tariq Lamptey looked pacy in his brief right wing cameo as Brighton beat Newcastle United 3-1 at the Amex. If he can stay fit, it will be like a new signing.

Midfielders
The main concern watching the Albion so far this season has been the number of chances created by the opposition. Brighton might be delivering xG numbers which put them towards the top of the Premier League in that metric, but there xG against is also amongst the worst.

All Albion fans will be hoping Baleba can quickly fulfil De Zerbi’s ringing endorsement of the £25 million signing’s talent.

“I think he’s very close with Moises,” De Zerbi has said. “Different because all players are different but he has the same quality, the same characteristics. He can become as good a player as Moises Caicedo.”

Number 10s and Forwards
The disappointing news of Enciso’s meniscus injury and estimated four months out is clearly balanced by the exciting arrival of Ansu Fati from Barcelona as Brighton pulled off one of the biggest chocks of the summer 2023 transfer window.

There will be relief that Evan Ferguson made his major headlines the day after the window shut, otherwise his sensational hat-trick against Newcastle might have tempted another club to make a huge bid for his services. Was that part of the reason he started the season on the bench?

Identifying which Brighton forwards to include in FPL teams will be a challenge with the arrival of Fati, the penalty taking duties bestowed on Pedro and the threat shown by Simon Adingra.

De Zerbi must feel that Facundo Buanonotte has something to offer Brighton this season too having earlier considered a summer 2023 transfer window loan move for him.

Lamptey’s exciting cameo against Newcastle at right wing leaves one wondering whether De Zerbi sees him as much as a winger as a full-back now, and whilst the Romanian league may not be the strongest, January arrival Mazilu already looks a steal at £2.5 million.

Those who got away
There is not enough space to include all the players Brighton were linked with in the summer 2023 transfer window but who did not end up at the Albion.

The two most worthy of noting are perhaps Mohammed Kudus and Derby County central defender Eiran Cashin. The Albion had reached a club record agreement of £34.5 million with Ajax for Kudus, but were unable to agree personal terms.

Reportedly, this was down to the insistence of Kudus’ camp that a release clause be included. Brighton refused and so Kudus ended up at West Ham United for £38 million on a higher salary.

Reports state that the Albion made many attempts to sign 21-year-old Derby centre-back Cashin, including discussions right up to the end of deadline day.

Rams head coach Paul Warne said: “Somebody wanted to buy our player and it was continuing all over the day. Everything kept moving and they were moving pieces.”

When the transfer did not go ahead, Warned added: “It looked like it was happening – he’s not sulking and he appreciates the fact both clubs were fighting for themselves.”

With Cashin reportedly out of contract next summer, expect the Albion to launch a renewed attempt to sign the defender in January.

Transfer summary
A reminder of the completed business done by Brighton in the summer 2023 transfer window, in addition to the loans listed above

Joining the academy
The Albion have also been busy strengthening their academy. Names to keep an eye on over the coming years include 18-year-old left back Jacob Slater from Preston North End, 18-year-old centre back Noel Atom from RB Leipzig and 18-year-old forward Broady Peart from Basingstoke.

Brighton have also acquired 16-year-old midfielder Nehemiah Oriola from Manchester United and 18-year-old forward Louis Flower from Chelsea. Expect Todd Boehly to buy Flower back in five years time for £200 million.

Contrary to earlier reports that he had left Celtic for Brighton, it now looks as if defender Ronan Ferns is staying with the Scottish champions.

Peter Finn