Sussex

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

We asked our Brighton fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.

Carlos Baleba

Combines the best bits of Yves Bissouma and Moises Caicedo to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Breaks up attacks. Scores last-minute winners from 35 yards. Even picked up man of the match the first time in his life playing a competitive game at centre-back.

Kaoru Mitoma

It seems to have gone a little under the radar that Mitoma is on for his most prolific campaign in England. He also rejected the Saudi Pro League in January because he wants to play at the highest level possible rather than line his pockets. Can we have an award for moralistic player of the season?

Jan Paul van Hecke

Van Hecke has been the one constant at the heart of the defence this season. Rattled through more partners than Henry VIII had wives, yet nothing has fazed him. Will surely succeed Lewis Dunk as captain... presuming he breaks the curse of not leaving within months of winning the club's official player of the year award.

Danny Welbeck

Welbeck has scored 10 times so far – the same as Mitoma and Joao Pedro. But what makes him a contender for player of the season is how important his goals have been in terms of deciding games. Take them away and the Albion have 10 fewer points, sitting 13th in the table.

Honourable mention

Adam Webster came into the starting XI after the 7-0 shambles at the City Ground only because of injuries to every other centre-back. Brighton won six and drew two of their next eight games. When Webster was then injured himself, the Albion's form collapsed. Coincidence? I think not.

Pick your 2024-25 Brighton player of the season from our shortlist here

And tell us why you're picking who you are, or why you'd have gone for another player not on the list, here

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Image source, Getty Images

On the latest episode of Albion Unlimited, former Brighton players Guy Butters and Warren Aspinall discuss the team spirit at the club and impact of the substitutes.

Brighton have had more goal involvements via substitutes than any other team in the Premier League this season (21).

Former defender Butters said: "When you are on the bench you're literally chomping to get on. You want to get on there and prove what you can do. Some players come on and sulk - I don't see that at Brighton - I see them all wanting to go on there and get in the box.

"You're always going to have certain personalities that clash in every single squad but this squad that we've got now, you haven't got many sulkers in there, it doesn't seem to have too many of those sort of players in there. That could go down as well to the scouting group, the people that do their homework on what a player is like not only on the pitch but away from it as well."

Aspinall added: "We used to have a great team spirit, even if you weren't in the team. What I see now in this Brighton side is we've got no sulkers. We've got nobody thinking 'I'm on the bench, I'm sulking because I'm not playing'. Or someone going on there and not passing, waving their hand up in the air when they don't get the ball. I've not seen that for the last few months."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Brighton have agreed a deal to sign 27-year-old French defender Olivier Boscagli on a free transfer from PSV Eindhoven. (Sky Sports), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Chris Wise
BBC Commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Amongst the chaos of a win over the champions on Monday night, Brighton handed a debut to their youngest ever Premier League player.

Step forward 17 year old Harry Howell. And what trust Fabian Hurzeler must have in Howell to put him into a situation like that. I asked Hurzeler about him afterwards, and he called the teenager a "special" player, who had really impressed in training. For the Brighton manager, age is no barrier.

This has been a meticulous, well-thought out plan by Brighton to get Howell some Premier League minutes before the end of the season. It might be a new name to anyone outside the walls of the Amex Stadium, but Howell has been training with the first-team for a couple of months now. Internally, they feel like he is destined for a very bright future.

When Howell came off the bench with his cousin Jack Hinshelwood, it was 2-2. A minute later, Howell was almost stood next to Hinshelwood when he popped in the winning goal. Maybe it was purely coincidental, but Hurzeler's decision to send Howell on with Hinshelwood felt deliberate to me. A familiar face to settle the nerves perhaps?

Howell reminded me a bit of when Tyler Dibling burst onto the scene at the start of the season for Southampton. There are similarities in style and self-belief.

He's been in tremendous form for the Brighton Under-21s this season, and has an excellent grounding in his dad, Jamie. He was a youngster with Arsenal and part of their team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1994.

Brighton's reputation for developing players means the teenager is in very good hands.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton took three points on Monday by beating Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2, keeping alive their chances of European football.

Mats Wieffer told BBC Radio Sussex: "It's really nice. I think in the first half after 15 minutes we dominated the game, we had more possession and a couple of good chances.

"I think in the second half, we kept on pushing and the substitutes that came on did a good job and in the end we got it over the line. We've struggled at some points this season to get it over the line. We prevented them from making it 3-3, which we've had a problem doing this season. Amazing three points for us."

On his first season with Brighton: "It's been a hard season for me. I came with a quad injury and was out for a long time, then I played the first game and got injured. I never got in the rhythm and now I am really fit and have got used to the intensity.

"I've played in good leagues, Champions League and European football, but this is something else. I don't play in my natural position, but I try to play my best football if possible. It's going well at the moment."

On it being the second highest finish for Brighton: "Everyone wants to play European football. It's still possible.

"I think in the end, it's a good position especially because it's the second highest Brighton's ever achieved. We hope to play European football, for sure."

Listen to more from Wieffer on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Brighton and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Callum: Huge performance! Everyone played their part. I think a really big shoutout should go to 17-year-old Harry Howell, who came on at a pretty nervy point of the game and held on remarkably, even nearly getting an assist. Fingers crossed results go our way for Europe.

Glyn: Brajan Gruda grew into a special player. He will be immense next season.

Oli: So impressive from that young midfield three of Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra and Gruda over the past few weeks. Adingra looks revitalised after having a tough season. I think we are all very eager to see what they can produce next season especially if, fingers crossed, it's in Europe!

Liverpool fans

Ian: I know we wrapped up the league two weeks ago, but this is getting embarrassing. Slot should realise people pay their hard-earned cash to watch games. We should be sending a message to the other teams by putting out the strongest team and beating these sides. I just hope the performance on Sunday is a much-improved one. I don't want it to spoil the celebrations with another defeat.

Wayne: Below-par performance yet again, this is the worst team to have won the Premier League title. I would be very surprised if we even qualify for the Champions League next season.

Shaun: Going off that game, we need seven or eight new players for next season. The back-up boys just aren't good enough. The past few games Harvey Elliott has played he has gone backwards, the same with Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah. Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate also had mares.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "There have been a lot of highs and lows throughout the season. It is important you don't overreact and it is important to stay grounded and humble because there is still one game to go. But I'm really proud of the team.

"It's not only about playing a football game and the tactical side but it's about the mental side too. We only can be successful if you stick together and we proved that so we are very happy.

"The players changed the intensity on the pitch. They used the goal as the wake-up signal. Liverpool were impressive in the first 20 minutes but I was happy with the reaction."

On Brajan Gruda's performance: "That was his best game, yes. It's important to understand that behind the player is a person and it's a very young person. He comes from a different country and he's away from his family. He never gave up and always tried to improve in training and showed character. He gets the reward for all his hard work."

On 17-year-old Harry Howell: "It's a special player for his young age. I always give young players the chance because it's not about your age if you're good enough.

"Everyone knows their role, if you're a sub then you can come into the game. You always have to be ready to have an impact on it."

Did you know?

• Brighton have come back to win three Premier League games this season when trailing at half-time, with only Fulham doing so more often (five).

Listen to more from Hurzeler on BBC Sounds