Brighton v Fulham: Team news published at 14:08 BST 16 August
14:08 BST 16 August
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler hands a Premier League debut to left-back Maxim De Cuyper while fellow newbies Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli are on the bench.
Brighton XI: Verbuggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Wieffer, De Cuyper, O'Riley, Ayari, Baleba, Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter.
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Fulhampublished at 11:02 BST 16 August
11:02 BST 16 August
I had a nightmare predicting Fulham last season because they were less consistent than usual at home, but picked up a few unexpected points away.
They haven't really added to their squad this summer, but under Marco Silva they are still a decent team who play attractive football.
It's Brighton I am backing here though, even if I do wonder what effect Joao Pedro leaving will have on the Seagulls - who were so exciting in attack at times last season.
The Seagulls have signed young Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas, who has a big reputation but he is only 18 years old, so they will be relying on wily old Danny Welbeck - as well as Kaoru Mitoma - while Kostoulas adapts.
We had Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on this week's Monday Night Club and it was really interesting to listen to him talk about all aspects of management.
Hurzeler said they had turned down bids for Mitoma in the past. We know Brighton's model is to sell players, but Hurzeler clearly has got ambition himself - and while players like Mitoma are there, they are going to be in the top half of the table.
I was thinking of being bold and starting the season by backing them to get a big win, but I'm going to be sensible - for once.
Fulham v Brighton: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 17:18 BST 15 August
17:18 BST 15 August
Tom McCoy BBC Sport journalist
Fulham ended last season with five defeats in their final seven matches but have failed to strengthen their squad over the summer, prompting concern from head coach Marco Silva.
Speaking ahead of their opening game away to Brighton, Silva said he was surprised by how "passive" the club had been, adding "I knew what I wanted and the plan was there but it hasn't happened – right now we need to reinforce".
The Whites are in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk for Brazilian winger Kevin, who could eventually cost a club-record fee of £40m, but to date they have brought in just one first-team player, fewer than any other Premier League club. Their solitary signing so far, 34-year-old goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, joined for approximately £400,000, meaning the west London side also rank last for total spending.
Silva admitted on Thursday "in some positions we are very short in numbers" but he can at least take heart from results in pre-season. Fulham have won five of their six friendly games, including last weekend's 1-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt courtesy of a Raul Jimenez free-kick.
Brighton's outlay of approximately £68m is the seventh lowest by a top-flight side this summer, but it is worth noting they spent a league-high £196.6m last summer plus a further £40.8m in January.
One of the key questions for Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler is how to replace forward Joao Pedro following the Brazilian's £55m move to Chelsea.
The Seagulls have coped with the loss of star players before. When Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Alexis Mac Allister were sold, the profits were reinvested in emerging stars and that's the strategy they will again follow this season.
Two of the latest acquisitions are Greek forwards Charalampos Kostoulas, 18, and Stefanos Tzimas, 19.
Kostoulas arrived this summer for almost £30m after just 35 appearances and seven goals for Olympiakos. Tzimas, meanwhile, was signed earlier this year for over £20m but allowed to remain with Nuremberg for the remainder of the season. He ended the campaign with 12 goals in 24 appearances for the German second-tier club.
Both players are inexperienced and expected to be eased into action gradually but, given Brighton's track record, are likely to make their mark before too long.
How has Brighton's age profile changed?published at 15:58 BST 15 August
15:58 BST 15 August
Image source, Getty Images
We have looked into the age profile of Bournemouth's players for the 2025-26 season and recorded what percentage of minutes each of them played last campaign.
For the purpose of this exercise, we have deemed those under 24 as youth, between 24 and 30 as in their peak years and anyone over 30 to be a veteran.
The green represents new signings, who naturally did not play, red are those that have since left the club and yellow are all those that remain.
Brighton have used their summer to bring in youthful options.
If we consider the data offer below, we can see the green dots represent new signings and they skew heavily towards the 'youth' section of the chart.
Fabian Hurzeler has also so far kept three of the players who clocked the most minutes last season on Kaoru Mitoma, Carlos Baleba, Jean Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen.
The sale of Pervis Estupinan to AC Milan saw a player leave who balanced plenty of minutes last season with a 'peak' age.
Hurzeler on Kostoulas, Baleba and Fulhampublished at 10:46 BST 15 August
10:46 BST 15 August
Saffie Yates BBC Sport journalist
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Hurzeler feels "ready" for the new season: "The main thing is self-belief, focusing on our ability and quality."
He is "very happy" with Brighton's transfer window "Most players are fit. If the transfer window [were to] close tomorrow, I would be happy."
On new signing 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas: "We need to be patient. Just because we spent £30 million doesn't mean he'll start immediately."
The Greek striker "needs time to adapt to the intensity" so may not be involved against Fulham.
On the future of in-demand midfielder Carlos Baleba: "I'm very, very confident he will be a Brighton player. He seems to be in a good place and enjoying it with his team-mates. He's an option to start."
He praised 39-year-old midfielder James Milner, who extended his stay at Brighton in the summer : "It's incredible how hard he works, how ready he seems to be, how ambitious he is. You can still feel his desire and hunger to achieve something."
On injuries in his squad: "It's a big change from last season. Only Adam Webster and Solly March are long-term injuries. All other players are available."
He is not concerned about how to fill in for Joao Pedro, who scored 30 goals in 70 games for Brighton before joining Chelsea in the summer: "We can't replace him one to one, but we can replace him as a group. We have many players who can score goals."
On team strategy: "We can't challenge other teams with financial resources, but we can challenge them with togetherness, work ethic, playing intensely, and being fearless."
On whether it feels different going into his second season: "Everything feels a bit more familiar, but the Premier League is still the best league in the world with many challenges we have to face."
He says Fulham will be "a big challenge" for Brighton: "They are a very mature team. Their biggest strength is their compactness. They do everything together and are very well-organised."
Which Brighton players should we watch out for this season?published at 10:40 BST 15 August
10:40 BST 15 August
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked three Brighton players who will be worth watching out for in the next few months.
Diego Coppola
Age: 21 Position: Centre-back Country: Italy
James Fielden: I saw Coppola play twice at the European Under-21 Championship in the summer, and it was against Spain and Germany, so good games to judge him against top teams.
Brighton had clearly done their homework previous to the Euros, with the deal announced mid-competition, and you can see why they're ready to drop him into their evolving backline.
Strong and commanding in the middle, Coppola was also keen to play out over short and long distances, and that, along with other metrics, clearly impressed the Seagulls.
Harry Howell
Age: 17 Position: Midfield Country: England
Guy Mowbray: I must confess to never having seen him play... but he's a name that's been mentioned to me by quite a few people this summer - some of whom I consider to be VERY good judges!
As was once said about another teenager, external, who made his mark on the Premier League - "remember the name".
Jonathan Pearce: Brighton fans will be praying that Carlos Baleba stays put and that Yankuba Minteh continues his dramatic improvement. But there's another youngster ready to leap off the Amex talent conveyor belt.
I was mightily impressed by Howell's cameo debut in the penultimate game of last season. He helped win the game with his front-foot, fearless, direct running at the opposition.
His cousin Jack Hinshelwood had a big breakthrough season last time around - 2025-26 could be the year for Harry.
Charalampos Kostoulas
Age: 18 Position: Forward Country: Greece
Mark Scott: Brighton's track history of buying low and selling high is the envy of city traders, but their £30m outlay on Charalampos Kostoulas is the second most they've ever spent on a player.
The Seagulls rarely get it wrong, though and haven't blinked at splashing that much on an 18-year-old with just a season of senior football behind him.
He's shown versatility, having impressed as a number nine at academy level, before switching successfully to a second striker role once he made the first team at Olympiakos.
His physicality has also caught the eye, with one of his former coaches saying the strength he has for his age is "extraordinary". Maybe he'll turn out to be yet another Brighton bargain.
Gossip: Dortmund interested in Buonanottepublished at 07:37 BST 15 August
07:37 BST 15 August
Borussia Dortmund have joined Bayer Leverkusen in showing an interest in taking Brighton and Argentina winger Facundo Buonanotte, 20, on loan this season. (Mail, external)
Meanwhile, Manchester United are lining up a £50m deal for Sporting and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 26, if they miss out on Brighton's 21-year-old Cameroon international Carlos Baleba. (Sun, external)
Where will Brighton finish this season?published at 12:02 BST 14 August
12:02 BST 14 August
BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has offered up his annual predictions:
11) Brighton
Last season: Eighth
This superbly run club continue to be a presence in the upper reaches of the Premier League, although the loss of Joao Pedro to Chelsea will leave a big hole.
Fabian Hurzeler enjoyed a very good first season at the Amex, and Brighton have been working the markets in their usual fashion, with smart acquisitions of young, developing players.
Lots of eyes will be on 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas - the highly rated Greek striker signed from Olympiakos - while 21-year-old Italy defender Diego Coppola - signed from Hellas Verona - looks a typically smart Brighton signing.
Brighton are always pleasing on the eye and will not take a backwards step under Hurzeler. Another decent season awaits.
What do you want to know about Brighton?published at 16:45 BST 13 August
16:45 BST 13 August
Have you got a question about Brighton or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted an Albion theme or trend that needs further investigation?
Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.
Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.
No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the link below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.
Who should start the season up front for Brighton?published at 15:22 BST 13 August
15:22 BST 13 August
Image source, Getty Images
Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall believes Danny Welbeck should start their opening Premier League game.
Albion face Fulham at home on the first day and Aspinall believes last season's top scorer Welbeck simply has to start up front alongside Georginio Rutter.
"I think it will be Welbeck and Rutter up top on Saturday, and I hope it is," he told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast. "We haven't got anyone to stretch teams, and Welbeck's movement is excellent.
"Welbeck creates space - just his movement catches the eye of the centre-half. They have an eye on him, and if it's Matt O'Riley or Rutter playing in there, they can then get on the ball.
"O'Riley couldn't get on the ball in the first half against Wolfsburg - it was the same against Southampton while what Rutter was doing was coming towards the ball and cramping everything up.
"You have two midfielders wanting the ball in Diego Gomez and Yasin Ayari, and they were getting in each other's way."
Gossip: Albion want £39m for Buonanottepublished at 07:19 BST 13 August
07:19 BST 13 August
Bayer Leverkusen are the latest side to express an interest in Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte, with the Seagulls willing to sell the winger for about £39m. (Kicker - in German), external
'Frustration or European adventure?'published at 13:38 BST 12 August
13:38 BST 12 August
Scott McCarthy Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton were so wildly inconsistent through the 2024-25 season that it is hard to know what to expect coming into the new campaign.
Play like they did in the final five matches or when winning six in a row through February and March and it could be Champions League qualification.
Repeat the dismal form of early 2025 that culminated in the 7-0 shambles at the City Ground or the terrible run of April results and it will be a bottom-half finish and lots of that dreaded word, frustration.
People at the club are openly talking about the top five. Tony Bloom has publicly stated it was disappointing to miss out on Europe. That tells you what the club is aiming for.
Whether that is achievable will depend on a couple of things. That (still) the youngest manager in the Premier League and his relatively youthful squad have learned lessons from last season, becoming better for the experience of moments like that shipping of seven goals against Nottingham Forest.
Brighton must also try to keep this group of players together unless someone offers an insane amount of money.
Carlos Baleba to Manchester United is the obvious example given recent rumours but holding on to the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Jan Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen between now and September will be equally important.
My hope is that the 'transition' season 2024-25 was billed as pays off and that in 12 months time, Albion fans are informing loved ones there will be no summer vacation because money and holiday leave needs to be saved for another Brighton European adventure.
My fear is that all the 'transitioning' done during the previous campaign ends up actually benefiting United and others when they snare more stars from the Albion, rather than helping push Brighton back into the top eight.
