Brighton & Hove Albion

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Charalampos Kostoulas has a "big season" ahead of him, says former Brighton player Warren Aspinall.

Striker Kostoulas was signed for £29.78m from Greek side Olympiacos in the summer of 2025 and made 21 appearances last season, scoring twice.

However, the 19-year-old started just twice in the Premier League and once more in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

"It's a big season for Kostoulas," Aspinall told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast.

"Every time he appeared last season he did something, even if it was five minutes. I think we need to give him a good crack at the whip this time, take the shackles off him and let him go.

"He is chomping at the bit and I think he can be very good for Brighton this season. I think he's raw and has everything in him. He doesn't give the defender a minute's peace. We need a striker who can stretch teams and go over the top - we don't have that player.

"Fingers crossed Kostoulas comes to the party next season. If he could get 15 goals in all competitions I would be delighted. He just needs a run of games."

BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor added: "We've talked about this striker situation a fair bit, but maybe he needs that opportunity to grow into that role with Danny Welbeck.

"I like him. He's strong despite the fact he's not the tallest - it's difficult to get the ball off him.

"There are different ways of being a good striker and he's different to Welbeck."

Listen to the full episode of Albion Unlimited on BBC Sounds

Rangers are set to formalise their interest in Brighton's Amario Cozier-Duberry after Anderlecht had a £5m bid rejected and with Hull City, ParisFC, Red Bull Salzburg and West Ham also keen on the winger. (Simon Collings on X, external)

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Adam Webster has reflected on "the most enjoyable part" of his career, after his seven-year spell at Brighton came to an end on the expiry of his contract this summer.

Webster became the Seagulls' record signing when he joined from Bristol City in 2019, and went on to make 158 appearances for the club, missing last season with a serious knee injury.

Speaking exclusively to the Albion Unlimited podcast, Webster said: "It's a bit of a strange time to be honest. It's the first time in my career I've been a free agent, so it's a bit weird.

"It was a great seven years, I enjoyed every minute of it. It was certainly the most enjoyable part of my career and I absolutely loved it.

"I was delighted to be given the chance to play in the Premier League. It was a great show of faith by the owner. I was buzzing when Brighton signed me."

In Webster's time at the club, Brighton went from a newly-promoted side who had finished 15th and 17th in their first two Premier League seasons, to four top-half finishes, a best ever place of sixth, and two European qualifications.

"I always remember all of my goals as there weren't many!" Webster added when asked about his best moments.

"Some of the games we had - I look back on some of the games in Fabian's [Hurzeler] first season with really good memories. Last game of the season away at Spurs, and Newcastle away in the FA Cup especially.

"Then under Roberto [De Zerbi], we had quite memorable ones. We beat Wolves 6-0 at home, beat Manchester United 1-0 after the FA Cup semi defeat which was special.

"There are so many to name, so many games, so many good memories. We've had so many results against the big boys. We had a lot of special nights at the Amex.

"I always felt like I had a really good relationship with the fans. Got a bit of stick at times, but that's normal. I certainly had a good connection and they've always been really supportive, especially in the downs."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Manchester United remain keen to sign a central midfielder but have cooled their interest in Brighton's Cameroon international Carlos Baleba and Bournemouth's Guernseyman Alex Scott, both 22, because of their high price tags. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Now the dust has settled on the 2026 World Cup, you can officially review your Predictor results for the tournament.

If you played more than four rounds, BBC Sport has done a deep dive into your predictions, tournament performance and compared you to other players.

Don't worry, though, Predictor isn't stopping at international tournaments! Pre-season has kicked off and there are plenty of friendlies and European qualifiers to keep us occupied before the new season gets under way.

So how do you fancy your chances of correctly predicting the scores for our six selected matches every week?

BBC Sport has launched a new weekly Predictor game to cover the 2026-27 season, allowing users to pick what they think will be the result from six fixtures from across the leagues.

There will usually be a Friday deadline and the game will also feature streaks, so make sure to build it into your weekly football habits.

Lock in your first round of predictions before Friday, 24 July here

If you're wondering how to play, here are a few easy steps:

• Click on the link above to take you to the selections page.

• For every match, you either choose a winning team or select a draw - once your prediction has been submitted you won't be able to change it, so be sure to pick carefully.

• Then wait for the results to roll in to see how you have done.

• Share your results with your friends and family.

• Every consecutive round you play adds one to your streak, but if you miss a round then your streak will reset to zero.

Mohamed Moallim
BBC Sport Journalist

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The Premier League's financial landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade. Since 2016 total summer transfer spending has risen from £1.16bn to a record £3.19bn in 2025 – an increase of almost 175%.

On the surface, that suggests transfer figures are continuing to accelerate. Headline fees, though, tell only part of the story.

Research by Kieran Maguire and colleagues at the University of Liverpool suggests some of the Premier League's earlier record signings represented even greater investments when measured against clubs' buying power at the time.

Using Premier League broadcasting revenues as an index, Alan Shearer's £15m move from Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United in 1996 remains the league's biggest transfer relative to clubs' spending power. Rio Ferdinand's £29.1m move to Manchester United in 2002 and Juan Sebastian Veron's £28.1m arrival at Old Trafford in 2001 also rank above any of this summer's blockbuster deals.

The same model suggests Trevor Francis' £1m move from Birmingham City to Forest in 1979 – English football's first £1m transfer – would equate to about £173m in today's market.

That does not mean the fees paid for Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali were modest. Rather, it reflects how dramatically Premier League revenues have grown, allowing clubs to spend sums that would once have been unimaginable.

When Jack Grealish became Britain's first £100m footballer when joining City from Villa in 2021, the transfer marked another turning point in the evolution of the market.

Only five years later, nine-figure deals are no longer viewed as extraordinary. They have become a familiar feature of Premier League transfer windows.

The next milestone may not be far away.

While no Premier League club has yet paid £200m for a player, football's financial ceiling continues to rise and the first transfer of that magnitude no longer feels beyond the realms of possibility.

• Read more on transfer fee evolution

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We asked you to pick one player you would like to move on this summer and one realistic target you want Brighton to bring in before the transfer window shuts.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Joe: In: Defence seems sorted, but we need some more attacking depth - we don't really have a back-up for Mitoma and look a bit light on the wings. We were linked to El Mala, who looks like he fits the bill - can play across the forward line and scored 13 last season. Antonio Nusa would be a dream - although I expect the big guns will come in for him after the World Cup. Maybe us sending Gruda to Leipzig could swing it? Out: Surely Matt O'Riley's days are numbered? He was recalled from loan but failed to make a real impact and it seems Fabian doesn't fancy him. Best to cash in now!

Steve: Carlos Baleba was a shadow of the player we saw in the 2024-25 season so if Manchester United want him and the fee is fair then he should move on. I'd sign Harvey Elliott. He has the industry we need in midfield, scores goals and the fee would be OK.

DbH: Out - Baleba. He was shocking this year. He is a central midfielder and not having one goal involvement the whole year is not good enough. Sell him. In. We need a name that someone has heard of and will play well straight away rather than in two years. There is Marc Casado from Barcelona who would be good if Baleba left, or - and this might be a bit of a stretch - Jobe Bellingham from Dortmund.

Fran: We now have a lot of defenders but still showing no signs of signing a striker, which, considering we create and miss so many easy chances, I would have thought is a priority. I know they are not readily available, but surely there is a striker out there? We cannot rely on Danny Welbeck to carry us. Perhaps also a creative midfielder to open up defences. The rest of the squad looks good.

On the latest episode of Albion Unlimited defender Adam Webster exclusively reflects on his Brighton career.

The Albion Unlimited team also discuss the departure of Andrew Crofts and the future for all the Seagulls' keepers.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds

Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up

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Andrew Crofts has left his position as Brighton assistant head coach to take on the same role at Tottenham as Roberto de Zerbi's's assistant.

The pair previously worked together during De Zerbi's spell in charge of the Seagulls.

Brighton sporting director Mike Cave said: "Andrew has been a fantastic member of the coaching staff in both our men's first team and the boys' academy, adding a huge amount of value to every role he has undertaken.

"While we are disappointed to see him leave, we understand that this is a fresh opportunity for him to challenge himself in a new environment.

"He is a great example of the pathway at the club for both our players and staff. We wish him the best of luck for the future."

Tottenham have also confirmed the appointments of Ali James (head of medical services), Tom Tombleson (head of athletic development) and Agostino Tibaudi (strength and conditioning coach).

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Thirty-four years ago a £13m transfer caused national outrage in Italy.

When AC Milan signed Gianluigi Lentini from Torino in 1992 for a then world record fee, newspapers called the deal "obscene", while the Vatican's official newspaper described it as "an offence against the dignity of work".

Today that fee would barely register among the Premier League's biggest transfers.

This summer alone Chelsea have agreed a club record £117m deal for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest £116m for Elliot Anderson, and Tottenham spent a club record £100m on Sandro Tonali.

These are not the only major deals. Tottenham also agreed an £85m move for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, Barcelona paid £69m to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, and Manchester United spent £50m on Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.

It is the first transfer window in Premier League history to produce three £100m-plus signings - and there are still weeks to go before deadline day on 1 September.

During the 2025 summer window English top-flight clubs spent a record £3bn.

So why are transfer fees continuing to climb? Why are clubs paying record sums for players already playing in England? And why are more clubs willing to sell some of their biggest stars?

Read more here on the big spending taking place in the Premier League

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Roberto de Zerbi is set to add Brighton's Andrew Crofts to his Tottenham coaching staff before the 2026-27 season.

Crofts is the Seagulls' assistant head coach under Fabian Hurzeler and also works as part of Wales boss Craig Bellamy's staff.

The 42-year-old has spent his entire club coaching career with Brighton, rising through the academy ranks before being appointed to the first-team staff in August 2024 following the arrival of Hurzeler.

Crofts played for clubs including Brighton and Norwich City, and won 29 caps for Wales.

With the 2026 World Cup done and dusted, the return of club football is back on everyone's minds.

Pre-season preparations are under way and we want you to have a think about Brighton's squad.

Tell us one player you would like to move on this summer and one realistic target you want Albion to bring in before the transfer window shuts.

Get in touch with your picks here

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With pre-season officially in full swing, we asked you to tell us what you're looking forward to about club football returning.

Here are some of your replies:

Jack: I can't wait to see Brighton play in Europe and go to away games at Portman Road and Stamford Bridge. I also can't wait to see all of our new signings play, especially Luka Vuskovic.

Phil: A pie and a pint at Amex Stadium.

Nigel: I'm looking forward to seeing the new group of talented players integrating with our wonderful squad, under the guidance of our mighty German boss and his team of coaches.

Sean: Looking forward to this season with real optimism that we will finally win a trophy, either in Europe or domestically.

Flo: I am looking forward to club football this season because there are three new teams in the league. Two look very strong. I also need a break from this World Cup, which has been tedious for me and all the England fans.

Newcastle are in talks over Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, 25, and with fellow Englishman James Trafford, Manchester City's 23-year-old goalkeeper. (Mail - requires subscription), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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The World Cup has done a fantastic job of filling the Premier League void, but there is nothing quite like club football.

As the tournament in North America heads towards its climax and England supporters' disappointment sinks in, there is an Arsenal fanbase waiting for the 2026-27 season with anticipation.

So, it has got us thinking: what are you looking forward to most about club football resuming?

Get in touch here

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Brighton defender Diego Coppola has joined Paris FC on a permanent transfer, after spending the second half of last season on loan at the Ligue 1 side.

Coppola joined Brighton in June 2025 from boyhood club Hellas Verona and made nine appearances for the Seagulls.

On the 22-year-old's exit, sporting director Mike Cave said: "Diego made a good impact with Paris during his loan there last season and it was a transfer both he and Paris FC were keen to pursue.

"With growing competition for places, this moved suits all parties and allows Diego to make the next step in his career. We wish him all the best."

Former Brighton midfielder Warren Aspinall says the Seagulls should target Manchester United's Mason Mount if the Red Devils renew their interest in Carlos Baleba.

Baleba was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2025, but struggled for form last season in Fabian Hurzeler's side after no deal materialised.

Mount himself has struggled for form and fitness since joining United from Chelsea in 2023.

"I was thinking - if Baleba did go to Manchester United then I'd see if I could get Mason Mount as part of the deal," Aspinall told the Albion Unlimited podcast.

"He's not going to be in the side because they've just signed two midfield players in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.

"Those two and Kobbie Mainoo will be starters, so where does that leave Mount? They have good players coming through in the likes of Tyler Fletcher."

The Red Devils appear to be the only side with concrete links with Baleba, and after signing two midfielders in a week, there is also a distinct possibility the midfielder stays at Brighton. If this is the case, Aspinall believes it is Hurzeler's responsibility to get his form back on track.

Aspinall added: "For Baleba, the manager has to sit him down in a one-to-one situation and say, 'look, just get your head down, do what you did not last season but the season before, and they will all come for you then'.

"They would all be after him because he's excellent. He's strong, powerful, breaks the lines very well. It was easy for him in certain games.

"Sometimes you get a sniff from a club like Manchester United and you start to think about that big move and big payday but it has not happened. You have to get your head down, go again, and see where it takes him.

"If he does stay he needs to knuckle down and he can have a great season at Brighton. If he plays well, Brighton play well because he wins that midfield battle. If he is at the top of his game he makes his team-mates believe."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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We asked you which players you have watched at the World Cup that you think would be a great fit at Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Dela: Ayase Ueda of Japan. We need a worthy successor to Danny Welbeck and you don't get much better choice than the Eredivisie top goalscorer, especially for the price-range Brighton are looking at.

Tom: Marcus Rashford would fit in really well at Brighton. We need more depth in our wingers, as Karou Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh have been our only reliable options. Mitoma has been injured recently, so bringing in Rashford from Manchester United wouldn't be a bad idea. Yes he will cost a hefty price, but I think it would definitely work out as he would develop and grow in confidence with us. He would definitely start and hopefully score a ton of goals!

Alex: Jonathan David would be a great and relatively cheap signing. I live in Canada so I may have had a little more exposure to him than some. I love the Pascal Struijk signing.

Pete: Mexico's 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora will be courted by many big clubs in Europe, but Brighton have shown that young talented midfielders from South America - eg. Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo - can develop quickly and flourish at the club, before moving on for a sizeable fee to so-called bigger clubs.

Owen: FolarinBalogun looks like a strong striker option, especially moving into next season with European football. At present, we only have 34-year-old Welbeck and a currently injured Stefanos Tzimas. We could also probably sell him on afterwards for double the amount, if he performs well.

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Luka Vuskovic says he received "a lot of calls" around potential transfers this summer, but a conversation with head coach Fabian Hurzeler made him realise it was "only ever Brighton".

The 19-year-old defender, who joined Tottenham from Hajduk Split in July 2025, signed a five-year contract at Amex Stadium for a club record fee of £46m.

"It feels really good to be a Brighton player," Vuskovic told the club's website, external. "Last year, I read a lot about this club and I watched a lot of the games. It is the best possible club for a young player to raise his bar at.

"Fabian Hurzeler told me the style he likes to play, and it is really nice to see. There were a lot of other calls but, as soon as I spoke with the coach, it was only ever Brighton and I was waiting for the deal to be finalised.

"I really like the project here, so there have been no doubts about it from my side.

"The coach and I have talked a lot about my style and how he wants his team to play. I think it will be a good fit and I will give my best to prove that to everyone. There are a lot of top defenders here so I will have to compete from day one."

On the Seagulls' reputation for developing young talent, Vuskovic added: "This club is the biggest machine in the world for producing young players.

"It gives you even more confidence and motivation to know that a club like this wants you that much."

In the latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Johnny Cantor is joined by Warren Aspinall and Guy Butters to discuss the latest in Brighton's transfer window, including Carlos Baleba's future.

Former Seagulls midfielder Alan Mullery also joins to reminisce on his time at the club and give his thoughts on the 125th anniversary kit.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds

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Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler says the Seagulls have followed Luka Vuskovic's "fantastic start to his career" and are looking forward to helping him break into the Premier League now that his transfer is complete.

Vuskovic, who has signed from Tottenham on a five-year-deal, spent last season on loan at Hamburg and was named in the Bundesliga team of the year.

The 19-year-old has six senior caps for Croatia and started against England in the opening group match of the World Cup.

"Luka has enjoyed a fantastic start to his career - it's one we've followed closely," said Hurzeler. "Last season, he demonstrated he can play at a very high level and we want to help him build on that within our environment.

"There's been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League.

"We are confident that he will take this in his stride, though."