Andy Naylor
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Sexagenarian double grandad. Happily married father of two grown-ups, repelling age with tennis, pilates and outdoor spas. Only Stoke fan covering Brighton.
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Articles by Andy Naylor
Brighton’s numbers suggest they are ready for testing run of five straight away matches
Brighton and Hove Albion are showing they are equipped at both ends of the pitch for an impending acid test of their credentials as serious contenders both domestically and in Europe. Five straight away games in three competitions over the course of a fortnight — including two trips to Manchester City — would usually be seen as an excessive strain. Instead, Fabian Hurzeler’s squad can approach the stiff task with relish thanks to the numbers they have stacked up so far this season.
Goals, wins and halfway-line stunners: Brighton are just getting better and better and better
“In my journey so far with this club, I (have) experienced a lot of really positive things, but one thing is still missing,” Fabian Hurzeler told reporters before Brighton & Hove Albion entertained Crystal Palace on Sunday. Not any more. The head coach has ticked a very important box with his first win, at the fifth attempt, against the club’s biggest enemies.
Brighton may have kicked their habit of freezing when favourites at the ideal time
Brighton & Hove Albion are getting better at dealing with expectation. Fans are never nervous about facing big clubs domestically or in Europe. They do not expect much in these matches, but have become used to pleasant surprises thanks to a steady stream of results achieved in circumstances where Brighton are underdogs.
Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye added to Conference League squad, replaces Zadok Yohanna
Malick Yalcouye has been added to Brighton & Hove Albion’s squad for the UEFA Conference League. The Ivory Coast international midfielder was excluded from the initial list submitted by the club before the September deadline. Yalcouye, 20, has replaced injured Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna and played 90 minutes in tonight’s 4-0 home win over Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris in Brighton’s opening fixture in the group phase of the competition.
Brighton’s Pascal Struijk has red card rescinded, available to face Crystal Palace
Brighton & Hove Albion have successfully appealed against a controversial red card for Pascal Struijk in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Sunderland. The Dutch centre-back will now be available for Sunday’s Premier League visit by bitter rivals Crystal Palace. Struijk was sent off in the 57th minute of his away league debut in the match at the Stadium of Light.
What matters most, a really strong starting XI or a really strong squad? Brighton & Hove Albion’s flying start to the season — third in the Premier League table and through to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup — points to the latter outweighing the former. They built the best squad in their history this summer to cope with competing in three domestic competitions and the UEFA Conference League.
Brighton’s brilliant start is built on coffee runs, biscuit tricks and no longer being ‘nice’
Bart Verbruggen is buying lots of coffee for his Brighton & Hove Albion team-mates. When the Dutch goalkeeper keeps a clean sheet, he calls a local company to the club’s training headquarters in Lancing to provide hot drinks. Verbruggen racked up his sixth shut-out in eight appearances in Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Sunderland, which was secured despite playing the final 33 minutes with ten men after Pascal Struijk’s red card.
Tony Bloom on Hurzeler and Brighton’s future: ‘We have a realistic chance of finishing in the top five’
Tony Bloom is discussing how it felt watching his club destroy Arsenal. Brighton & Hove Albion’s owner and chairman had perhaps the best view from the directors’ box at the Amex Stadium as the reigning Premier League champions suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat. “During games, it’s just the emotion; hopefully enjoying the game and seeing what Fabian and the players have been working on be such a success,” says Bloom.
Brighton squad ladder: Gross improves with age, but when will Rutter find some rhythm?
Welcome to the first Brighton & Hove Albion squad ladder, a new series on The Athletic which will provide a monthly assessment of who is in form, who is slipping down the pecking order, why that might be — and how it might change. The opening ladder takes account of eight matches played across three competitions in a hectic start to the season for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
How Brighton became the Premier League’s set-piece kings
Brighton & Hove Albion are beginning to reap the benefits of their work on corners and free kicks. In addition to being the Premier League’s overall top scorers this season, they also lead the way in goals from set plays.
Zadok Yohanna’s journey to Brighton and the Premier League, as told by his mentors
It is a moment that sums up what the journey from gravel academy pitches in Nigeria to the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion means for Zadok Yohanna. At the beginning of June, a few weeks before his 19th birthday, Yohanna had just completed a £21.5million ($28m) move to Brighton from Swedish club AIK. After signing a five-year deal, he phoned home to speak to his parents from an office at his new club’s training centre in Lancing.
Brighton are flying without Mitoma. How can he force his way back in?
Kaoru Mitoma has been one of the first names on the team sheet since breaking through at Brighton & Hove Albion. By the time he returns from hamstring surgery, he may face a different scenario. Brighton have made a flying start to the season, but head coach Fabian Hurzeler is not counting the Japan winger to be fit when the Premier League returns after the international break. His goal at Wembley was a good example of the work he does with and without the ball.
This was Hurzeler-ball. And it was fabulous
It has not been an easy ride for Fabian Hurzeler since coming to England, but a statement win against Arsenal showed that Brighton & Hove Albion possess one of the best young coaching talents in the game. The way Hurzeler’s team outran and outplayed the reigning Premier League champions and early pacesetters in Saturday’s 3-0 win at the Amex Stadium had the 33-year-old German’s imprint all over it. “He came in and built on what we already had.
Fabian Hurzeler explains Jason Ayto’s Brighton exit: ‘It was the wrong moment’
Fabian Hurzeler says Jason Ayto’s move to Brighton & Hove Albion as sporting director was “the wrong timing”. Ayto parted company with Brighton in June, just nine months after arriving as sporting director. He had previously spent 11 years at Arsenal, which included spells as assistant and interim sporting director. The Athletic revealed that Ayto’s departure was caused by fundamental differences over the data-dominated recruitment operation of Brighton’s owner-chairman Tony Bloom.
A performance that showed why Brighton are finally ready to win their first trophy
Winning major silverware for the first time is one of the next steps for Brighton & Hove Albion. That aim is alive and kicking this season on three fronts after Wednesday’s comeback victory over Manchester United — the best of their five victories in six visits to Old Trafford. The most significant aspect of Wednesday night’s 3-2 Carabao Cup win was the six changes Fabian Hurzeler made to the starting line-up.
Brighton’s teenage talent Charalampos Kostoulas is taking his opportunity with both hands
It has taken a while to bear fruit, but the moment has arrived for Charalampos Kostoulas to establish himself as a front-line contender for a starting role at Brighton & Hove Albion. The 19-year-old Greek prospect’s contribution as the attacking spearhead in Sunday’s 5-0 win at Coventry City represents a breakthrough after a stop-start first year at the club.
Lewis Dunk. From 30 yards. ‘The perfect shot’ – but was it even Brighton’s best goal of the game?
In a game of stunning goals by Brighton & Hove Albion, it was hard to imagine that a superb individual effort by Charalampos Kostoulas just past the half-hour would be bettered. But then, with seven minutes of the 90 to play in Sunday’s eventual 5-0 romp away to Coventry City, up stepped Lewis Dunk to score from long range with the type of technique not normally associated with a centre-back.
Yasin Ayari is thriving in Brighton’s midfield, but how long will he be there?
Brighton & Hove Albion are in ongoing talks with Yasin Ayari about a new contract — but there are no guarantees that he will stay. A club source with knowledge of the situation, speaking to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity in order to protect relationships, has indicated that it is unclear at this stage whether the Sweden international midfielder will sign a new deal. Ayari signed until June 2027 when he was bought from AIK in January 2023 for £6million.
Conference League could add new dynamic to Brighton’s goalkeeper hierarchy Original
When Fabian Hurzeler became Brighton & Hove Albion’s head coach two years ago, he made Bart Verbruggen his undisputed No 1. That decision has been vindicated by Verbruggen’s performances at club level and his growth into the top goalkeeper for the Netherlands, but there is still a case for Jason Steele to be wearing the gloves in the Conference League this season.
Luka Vuskovic has hit the ground running, but Brighton’s 10 other signings will need time
Record signing Luka Vuskovic is setting a high bar in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion’s 10 other summer transfer window signings to pursue. Vuskovic, who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur for an initial £46million with add-ons potentially taking the deal to £50m, has played every minute of the first three league matches.
Malick Yalcouye among those left out of Brighton’s Conference League squad
Malick Yalcouye has been left out of Brighton & Hove Albion’s squad for the Conference League. The midfielder, 20, is a notable omission from the list of names submitted by the club before the 11pm BST deadline on Thursday night, after scoring on his full Premier League debut in Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at Chelsea. “We have to see how we manage this,” head coach Fabian Hurzeler told reporters during his press conference for Saturday’s home game against Leeds United.
Mats Wieffer to miss Brighton’s next four games with knee injury
Brighton & Hove Albion utility player Mats Wieffer has been ruled out of the next four matches by a bizarre knee injury. The midfielder turned right-back sustained the damage during Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at Chelsea after he was struck in the face by the ball. “We expect Mats to be out until the international break,” said head coach Fabian Hurzeler during his press briefing for Saturday’s home game against Leeds. “It’s a very unlucky one.
Promise David, Brighton’s new striker: ‘Players are similar, but I’m different’
“They’ve got a great data scout system, that’s all I can say,” says Promise David of the moment Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise first made contact and changed the course of the new Brighton & Hove Albion striker’s career. “They picked me out of thin air, but they said they had been monitoring me for a while,” he adds. “At first, I thought it was a spam, like a scam. Because if you’re playing in the third division in Estonia, you don’t expect a team playing in the Europa League to call.
Brighton transfer window review: A club record signing, 33 changes and deals down to the wire
“We must continue to evolve, invest and innovate, while remaining true to the principles that have brought us this far,” owner-chairman Tony Bloom told fans in his programme notes last month before Brighton & Hove Albion launched their 10th Premier League season in succession with a 4-0 home win against Aston Villa. That was certainly the case throughout a hectic summer transfer window involving a total of 33 changes to the playing staff and approximately £365million worth of trading.
Brighton complete £15m Femi Azeez signing from Millwall
Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Millwall winger Femi Azeez. The 25-year-old Nigeria international has signed a four-year contract, with the option of an extra 12 months, after the clubs agreed a total package in excess of £15million in the last hours of the summer transfer window on Tuesday. The clubs submitted a deal sheet before the 11pm deadline and completed the deal ahead of the extended 1am deadline on Wednesday morning.
Brighton working on deal for Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andres
Brighton & Hove Albion are working on a late move to sign defensive midfielder Chema Andres from Stuttgart. The deal is not yet done but talks are advancing ahead of the 11pm BST transfer deadline. The 21-year-old joined the Bundesliga club from Real Madrid for €5million ($5.8m; £4.4m) last summer. As part of that deal, Madrid retained a right of first refusal and a 50 per cent sell-on clause.
Transfer deadline day live updates: Man City agree Enzo Fernandez deal Chelsea, and more
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Transfer deadline day live updates: Man City agree Enzo Fernandez deal Chelsea, and more Follow live updates from the final day of the summer transfer window today. September 1, 2026 at 2:36 PM EDT Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Enzo Fernandez. Getty Images Strasbourg set to sign Essugo and Washington from Chelsea Getty Images Strasbourg have agreed to sign two Chelsea players — Dario Essugo on loan and Deivid Washington on a permanent deal.
By Ed Mackey, Simon Johnson Verified, Matt Woosnam Verified, Paul Taylor, Laia Cervelló Herrero Verified, George Ramsay Verified, Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, Colin Millar Verified, Patrick Boyland, Mario Cortegana Verified, Andy Naylor Verified, Jacob Tanswell Verified, Oliver Kay Verified, James Pearce Verified, Richard Sutcliffe Verified, Max Mathews Verified
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The New York Times
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Transfer deadline day live updates: Latest news on Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd and more
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Transfer deadline day live updates: Latest news on Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd and more Follow live updates from the final day of the summer transfer window today. September 1, 2026 at 6:08 AM EDT Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez is among the players who could be making a move on transfer deadline day. Getty Images Transfer deadline day — latest Transfer deadline day is upon us as clubs across Europe make their final moves of the summer window.
By Max Mathews Verified, Roshane Thomas Verified, David Ornstein Verified, Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, Andy Naylor Verified, Simon Johnson Verified, Guillermo Rai Verified, Patrick Boyland, Richard Sutcliffe Verified, Nancy Froston Verified, Ed Mackey, Beren Cross Verified, James McNicholas Verified
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The New York Times
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Yalcouye’s assured performance shows the post-Baleba era might not be so bad after all
Brighton & Hove Albion were 3-0 down at Chelsea after 32 minutes when Malick Yalcouye showed the visitors why they hope he can develop into their next midfield goldmine. The 20-year-old won a challenge for the ball with Pedro Neto just inside the Chelsea half, advanced and slipped a pass through to Charalampos Kostoulas who got a shot away.
Brighton’s Conference League draw: Glamour tie vs Monaco and a squad rotation balancing act
Brighton & Hove Albion fans are getting ready for their second taste of Europe, this time in the Conference League. A colourful mix of matches awaits in the group phase of the competition following Friday’s draw in Monaco, including a stand-out visit to the Amex Stadium by the club from the principality on the French Riviera. They also entertain Universitatea Craiova from Romania and Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris.
It’s so far, so good for Brighton’s rejigged post-Danny Welbeck attack
It is early days, but Brighton & Hove Albion look eager to prove they can cope without Danny Welbeck’s goals after last season’s top goalscorer moved to next opponents Chelsea this month. Fabian Hurzeler’s side followed up their 4-0 hammering of Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium in their opening 2026-27 Premier League fixture at the weekend by thumping Tromso there by the same scoreline last night (Thursday).
Brighton set to sign Colombian midfielder Matias Orozco, 18, from Deportivo Cali
Brighton & Hove Albion are set to add Colombian midfield prospect Matias Orozco to their ranks. They have agreed a deal with Deportivo Cali in Orozco’s homeland and the 18-year-old has travelled to the United Kingdom to finalise the signing. Orozco, a deep-lying playmaker, broke into Cali’s first team last season. He has made 24 appearances in the Colombian Primera and will be loaned out by Brighton to gain further experience.
Brighton close to completing €12m Jaouen Hadjam signing from Young Boys
Brighton & Hove Albion are closing in on the signing of Jaouen Hadjam from Swiss side Young Boys. The clubs are working on a €12million (£10.3m; $14m) deal for the 23-year-old left-back, who would become the south-coast club’s eighth signing of the summer. Hadjam, born in France, played for Paris FC and Nantes before moving to Young Boys in 2024 for around £1m.
Brighton close to completing €12m Jaouen Hadjam signing from Young Boys
1:43 Now France: Lyon complete preparations ahead of Fenerbahce return leg in Champions League playoff. StringersHub • 45m SHOTLIST: LYON, FRANCE (AUG. 25, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF OLYMPIQUE LYON PLAYERS AND STAFF TRAINING ON PITCHLYON, FRANCE - AUG. 25, 2026: French side Olympique Lyon completed preparations at the OL Training Center in Lyon on Tuesday, Aug. 25, for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League play-off second leg against Fenerbahce.
The Transfer DealSheet: Latest on Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and more Original
Welcome to the 13th summer 2026 window edition of The Transfer DealSheet. Our team of dedicated writers will take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on in what promises to be an extremely busy few months. This includes the players who could arrive and the ones on their way out across the Premier League. The information in this article has been gathered in line with The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines.
Brighton have turned to a mix of youth and experience to fill the void left by Van Hecke
Brighton & Hove Albion had the third-best defensive record in the Premier League last season with Jan Paul van Hecke as a pillar of the back four. They have quickly adapted to the Dutch international’s £52million ($71m) departure to Tottenham in June by assembling a range of options in the middle to make themselves hard to score against once more, and to give head coach Fabian Hurzeler scope for rotation in the Conference League.
Marmoush set for Tottenham medical, Liverpool hold Barcola talks, Newcastle agree Nico deal: Live transfer news updates
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Marmoush set for Tottenham medical, Liverpool hold Barcola talks, Newcastle agree Nico deal: Live transfer news updates Follow live as the summer transfer window ticks into its final week. August 26, 2026 at 6:18 AM EDT Omar Marmoush is set to complete a medical at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of a proposed transfer from Manchester City.
By Ed Mackey, Guillermo Rai Verified, Jack Pitt-Brooke Verified, Michael Bailey, Andy Naylor Verified, Chris Waugh Verified, Nancy Froston Verified, Paul Taylor Verified, David Ornstein Verified, Carl Anka Verified, Gregg Evans Verified
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The New York Times
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No Baleba, no problem: Brighton continue to defy football logic
Brighton & Hove Albion’s tactic of selling top players during the summer transfer window and continuing to thrive shows no sign of stalling. No Jan Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck, Carlos Baleba or Yankuba Minteh? No problem. Aston Villa were thrashed 4-0 at the Amex Stadium in the opening Premier League fixture of the new campaign for Fabian Hurzeler’s side — without four of the players that helped them finish eighth in the table last season to qualify for the Conference League.
Carlos Baleba set for Manchester United medical after £70m deal agreed with Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba is set to undergo a medical with Manchester United after the two clubs reached an agreement for the midfielder. The 22-year-old is expected to travel tonight before his medical on Saturday. The Athletic reported on August 19 that United were closing in on a deal for Baleba, having made an offer of around £60million (€70m, $81m) plus £5m in add-ons.
Brighton axe taxi firm after driver arrested for drug use
Brighton & Hove Albion have axed one of the taxi companies hired to transport players to and from home games after one of the drivers was spotted appearing to use an illegal substance in his car at the Amex Stadium. Police arrested the driver, and players were instead driven home in club vehicles and other taxis after last Saturday’s 1-0 friendly win against Italian side Bologna.
Brighton’s European adventure begins with costly flights, no TV coverage and goalless draw
Brighton & Hove Albion fans faced a stark choice if they wanted to watch their team’s goalless Conference League tie against Norwegian hosts Tromso, a club based inside the Arctic Circle. They could join owner-chairman Tony Bloom in paying through the nose for a direct flight to Thursday’s first leg in the play-off round, or pay £12 to stream a match not televised in the UK.
Liverpool have £50m Yankuba Minteh bid rejected by Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion have rejected a £50million ($68.1m) bid from Liverpool for winger Yankuba Minteh. The 22-year-old is currently recovering from surgery on a right leg injury sustained in a 3-0 friendly win at home to Roma earlier this month. Minteh is expected to be out of action for another eight weeks, but sources with knowledge of the matter say he is keen on the potential move if the clubs can agree a fee.
Fabian Hurzeler interview: ‘When I get criticised, I get criticised in the right way’
“Spending time with him and speaking about football, this is so valuable because he’s that guy doing old-school things but still in a modern way,” says Fabian Hurzeler of a blossoming relationship with a perhaps unexpected new confidante. Over the summer, the Brighton & Hove Albion head coach sat down and picked the brain of Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti. It was a crucial learning experience for the 33-year-old.
Fabian Hurzeler interview: ‘When I get criticised, I get criticised in the right way’
“Spending time with him and speaking about football, this is so valuable because he’s that guy doing old-school things but still in a modern way,” says Fabian Hurzeler of a blossoming relationship with a perhaps unexpected new confidante. Over the summer, the Brighton & Hove Albion head coach sat down and picked the brain of Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti. It was a crucial learning experience for the 33-year-old.
Brighton 2026-27 season preview: Back in Europe but injuries mount and a striker is needed Original
Will a European campaign get in the way again of Brighton & Hove Albion’s progress as an established Premier League club, capable of competing for trophies? They dropped from sixth to 11th in the table after reaching the last 16 of the Europa League under former head coach Roberto De Zerbi in 2023-24. Fabian Hurzeler faces a similar balancing act following a second successive eighth-placed finish last season, which secured a spot in the Conference League this season.
Brighton set to be without Yankuba Minteh for 2-3 months with injury
Brighton & Hove Albion are expecting to be without Yankuba Minteh for between two and three months due to a right leg injury. It is unclear at this stage whether the damage sustained by the Gambia international winger during Saturday’s 3-0 friendly win against Roma at the Amex Stadium will require surgery. But there are no plans to sign a replacement for Minteh in the rest of the summer transfer window, as the 22-year-old will be back in autumn.
Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez signs new five-year deal
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Diego Gomez has signed a new five-year contract, with the option of a further year. The versatile 23-year-old has been rewarded for his consistency in multiple positions since an £11million ($14.8m) move from MLS side Inter Miami in January 2025. Gomez, a Paraguay international, has made 56 appearances under head coach Fabian Hurzeler. He contributed ten goals in all competitions last season, including four goals in a 6-0 win away to Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
Can Brighton’s squad withstand the test of Tromso and have a crack at the Conference League? Original
Brighton & Hove Albion must be careful that the chill of winter does not arrive much earlier than normal for them this season in the Conference League. They face Norwegian side Tromso — based inside the Arctic Circle — in the play-off round of the competition over two legs later this month. They have known for a week who the opponents would almost certainly be, following Tromso’s 5-0 third qualifying round first-leg win over Cluj in Romania which turned Thursday night’s home leg into a formality.
Brighton set to be without Yankuba Minteh for 2-3 months with injury
Brighton & Hove Albion are expecting to be without Yankuba Minteh for between two and three months due to a right leg injury. It is unclear at this stage whether the damage sustained by the Gambia international winger during Saturday's 3-0 friendly win against Roma at the Amex Stadium will require surgery. But there are no plans to sign a replacement for Minteh in the rest of the summer transfer window, as the 22-year-old will be back in autumn.
Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez signs new five-year deal
Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Diego Gomez has signed a new five-year contract, with the option of a further year. The versatile 23-year-old has been rewarded for his consistency in multiple positions since an £11million ($14.8m) move from MLS side Inter Miami in January 2025. Gomez, a Paraguay international, has made 56 appearances under head coach Fabian Hurzeler. He contributed ten goals in all competitions last season, including four goals in a 6-0 win away to Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
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