Suspense mounts for Brighton and Hove Albion's 2025-26 season: Will the Seagulls soar despite the departure of Joao Pedro?
Brighton and Hove Albion Gear Up for 2025-26 Season with New Defensive Signings
Brighton and Hove Albion are preparing for their ninth consecutive Premier League season with a series of strategic moves aimed at improving their performance and challenging for European competition places.
The Seagulls, who finished eighth in the 2024-25 season, narrowly missing out on European qualification, have bolstered their defence with the arrivals of Olivier Boscagli from PSV and Diego Coppola from Hellas Verona [1][2]. These signings, along with Maxim De Cuyper and Charalampos Kostoulas [1][2][5], suggest a possible switch to a back three defensive system under head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who favoured this formation at St Pauli [4].
Coppola, a strong, no-nonsense Italian defender, excels in heading, blocking, and tackling, complementing more ball-playing centre-backs like Jan Paul van Hecke and Lewis Dunk [1]. Boscagli, a long-term target, signifies the club's investment in quality defensive options to improve stability at the back [1].
The addition of these central defenders could see a shift in Brighton's tactical approach, with a focus on a more robust defence to complement their existing attacking talents. Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck were the top scorers for Brighton last season, with 11 goals each [6].
Fabian Hurzeler, ranked at no.43 in our website's list of the best managers in the world right now [3], will oversee these changes. Despite some setbacks, the 32-year-old coach has shown improvement as the Premier League's youngest boss [7].
The fans are optimistic about the upcoming season, with many hailing owner Tony Bloom as a genius [8]. The team's impressive run in the FA Cup, reaching the Quarter-finals, and the League Cup, the Fourth Round, further fuels this optimism [9].
However, the departure of key players such as Joao Pedro to Chelsea and Pervis Estupinan to AC Milan poses challenges for the squad's attacking depth and balance [2][5]. The 18-year-old Greek defender, Charalampos Kostoulas, who joined the club for a significant amount of money, £34m-plus, may help mitigate these losses [5].
As the 2025-26 season approaches, Brighton and Hove Albion are proactively reshaping their defence and squad structure to push for a higher Premier League position and potential European qualification.
References:
[1] Brighton and Hove Albion sign Boscagli and Coppola
[2] Brighton sign Coppola and Boscagli as they look to strengthen defence
[3] Fabian Hurzeler ranked no.43 in our website's list of the best managers in the world right now
[4] Brighton eyeing back three formation under Fabian Hurzeler
[5] Brighton complete signing of Charalampos Kostoulas for £34m-plus
[6] Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck top scorers for Brighton in 2024-25 season
[7] Fabian Hurzeler, the Premier League's youngest boss, shows improvement despite setbacks
[8] Fans think Tony Bloom, the owner of Brighton and Hove Albion, is a genius
[9] Brighton reach Quarter-finals of FA Cup and Fourth Round of League Cup
Brighton and Hove Albion are focusing on enhancing their defensive setup for the upcoming 2025-26 season, with the signings of Olivier Boscagli and Diego Coppola, as they aim to strengthen their backline and compete for European places in the Premier League. The Seagulls' new defensive recruits, including Coppola who excels in heading, blocking, and tackling, and Boscagli who represents a quality investment in defensive options, could lead to a shift towards a more robust defensive system.
