Brighton faces squad depth challenges ahead of 2026-27 season

Brighton & Hove Albion enter their 10th consecutive Premier League season looking lighter than they’d probably like. The club qualified for the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League after finishing 8th last term, marking their return to European competition after a two-season absence.

Jan Paul van Hecke left for Tottenham in a £52 million deal. Danny Welbeck moved to Chelsea. Joel Veltman joined West Ham. Solly March and Adam Webster departed without new contracts. James Milner retired. That’s a lot of experience walking out the door in a single window.

The cost of losing leaders

Van Hecke’s departure is arguably the most damaging from a structural standpoint. At £52 million, Brighton got a strong fee, but replacing a first-choice center-back who understood the system is never as simple as cashing the check and moving on.

The departures of Veltman, March, and Webster strip away further depth across the back line and midfield. And fixture congestion is exactly what Brighton is about to face.

European football meets a thin roster

The Conference League play-off round begins in August 2026, meaning the campaign starts early with no room for a slow buildup.

Add the FA Cup, the EFL Cup (which Brighton enters at the third round), and 38 Premier League matches, and you’re looking at a season that could stretch past 50 competitive fixtures. That’s a heavy workload for any squad, let alone one that just lost half a dozen senior players.

Injury concerns only sharpen the problem. Yankuba Minteh has already been dealing with fitness issues, and he’s exactly the kind of young, dynamic player Brighton needs available for the full campaign.

Hürzeler’s long-term bet

The club clearly believes in its manager. Hürzeler, who has been in charge since June 2024, extended his contract through 2029 back in May 2026.

Guardian writers have collectively predicted Brighton to finish 9th this season. The Conference League itself offers a backdoor route back into continental competition for 2027-28, but only if Brighton can manage the workload without burning out.

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