Brighton showing commitment to Fabian Hurzeler — now they need new signings

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Graham Potter was in the early stages of his fourth season in charge at the Amex Stadium when he left for Chelsea in September 2022. Hurzeler will outlast Potter if he stays beyond September 2027. Chris Hughton and Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton’s other two Premier League managers, were each in the job for two top-flight seasons before the former was sacked in 2019 and the latter parted company by mutual consent in 2024. There was never a feeling internally that Hurzeler’s tenure would be limited to a corresponding shelf life. Not when a run of one win in 13 dropped them to 14th in the table in February and sections of the fan base called for Hurzeler to be axed after a 1-0 home defeat by rivals Crystal Palace. Or in March, with Hurzeler on Bayer Leverkusen’s wanted list as he steered a path through choppy to calmer waters. A well-placed source was “very confident” during that period that Hurzeler would agree a new deal. Brighton finished eighth in Hurzeler’s first season, 2024-25, just missing out on the holy grail of a European spot, as delivered by De Zerbi for the first time in the club’s history in 2023. With three games left of the German’s second season, they are once again in eighth place, on 50 points and right in the thick of the congested race for European qualification, after a restorative run of six victories in nine matches. The points tallies from De Zerbi and Hurzeler’s first seasons (62 and 61 respectively) are now out of reach, but a healthy return from fixtures at home against relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers, away at Leeds United, and Manchester United at home on the final day of the season could secure European football for a second time. It all adds up to Hurzeler — still only 33 — building an attractive CV. He became the Premier League’s youngest ever manager when he was appointed as De Zerbi’s successor in 2024, aged 31, after guiding St. Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga in his first full season at the helm. The room for further growth in his coaching journey is substantial. He is not elite level material yet, but his trajectory is such that it is feasible that he will one day be catching the eye of heavyweights such as Bayern Munich, Hurzeler’s boyhood club, where he fell short of making the grade as a first-team midfielder. Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, a successful race horse owner, knows a ‘good thing’ — virtually a guaranteed win — when he sees one. Bloom saw it in Potter, who was awarded a two-year contract extension within six months of his appointment. That helped secure £21.5million in compensation when Potter eventually joined Chelsea. A contract upgrade has not been as rapid as it was for Potter, but Bloom can see a good thing in Hurzeler too, and he deems him central to Brighton taking their next steps. The new deal does not just benefit Hurzeler, it also protects the club’s interests if admirers come knocking in an effort to entice him away. Brighton are on course for a fourth top-half finish in five seasons, but converting that level of consistency into more regular European qualification, or into the club’s first major silverware, will require further dexterity in the transfer market. Hurzeler needs help not just from Bloom, but also Jason Ayto and Mike Cave — in their first summer transfer window in their respective roles as sporting director and technical director. There are challenges ahead, whether or not Europe is achieved. The longer summer window is traditionally when Brighton do the bulk of their business and when they lose one or more of their top players for a healthy profit. Last year it was Joao Pedro to Chelsea for £60m, this year take your pick from Carlos Baleba — Manchester United are persistent admirers — or Dutch No 1 Bart Verbruggen or compatriot Jan Paul van Hecke. Last summer’s business improved the depth and potential of the squad, rather than the starting XI. Maxim De Cuyper, David Coppola, Olivier Boscagli, Charalampos Kostoulas and Tommy Watson were bought for a combined cost of around £70m. They have only made 27 league starts between them (Coppola was loaned in January to Paris FC, Watson to Championship play-off participants Millwall) and this summer the club need to add more at the top of the pecking order. Hurzeler needs an authentic right-back, physicality in midfield if Baleba goes and a more established No 9 alternative to 35-year-old Danny Welbeck than the raw promise of 18-year-old Kostoulas, 20-year-old Greek compatriot Stefanos Tzimas — ruled out since December by knee damage — and Evan Ferguson. Goals have been in short supply over a prolonged period for the 21-year-old Irishman, whose season-long loan to Roma was cut short in March by ankle surgery. Although three poor goals were leaked in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United, increasing the tally to 42, only title contenders Arsenal (26) and Manchester City (32) have better defensive records. The issue in order to kick on again is a more clinical edge at the top end of the pitch. Only Aston Villa (48) among the top nine teams in the table have scored fewer goals than Brighton’s total of 49. The load has been shared around to cover losing Joao Pedro, Ferdi Kadioglu becoming the 18th different scorer in the recent 3-0 home win over Chelsea. But they are off the pace compared to last season (66) and in De Zerbi’s Euro year (72). Brighton are nailing their colours to the mast by giving Hurzeler a new contract. With more firepower, he could hoist the flag even higher. Spot the pattern. 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