From Kadioglu to Cashin: Assessing Brighton’s signings under Fabian Hurzeler | OneFootball

Brighton & Hove Albion have spent just over £300 million on 19 signings across four windows under Fabian Hurzeler since 2024. According to NY Times, that rises by £21.5 million as the summer window opens on Monday, with 18-year-old Zadok Yohanna joining from AIK. Jason Ayto’s exit over data-led recruitment has sharpened scrutiny of their model.

Summer 2024 brought mixed returns. Ferdi Kadioglu excelled at left-back, later named club player of the season after a toe injury curtailed year one. £40 million Georginio Rutter impressed before ankle ligament damage in March 2025, then dipped as a No nine, while Yankuba Minteh was erratic and Mats Wieffer thrived after moving to right-back, earning a Netherlands recall.

Brajan Gruda flattered to deceive, then left on loan to RB Leipzig in January. Matt O’Riley never cemented a role, a Marseille loan underlining the step up from Scotland.

In January 2025, Stefanos Tzimas looked lively until an ACL rupture on his full league debut in the 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa. Diego Gomez proved value with six goals and two assists, and Eiran Cashin barely featured, then departed on loans after a nervy cameo in the 3-0 loss to Villa.

Summer 2025 saw £30 million prospect Charalampos Kostoulas largely restricted to cameos at No nine or No 10. Maxim De Cuyper was a capable deputy to Kadioglu, Diego Coppola showed promise then aided Paris FC on loan, and Olivier Boscagli passed well but invited pace and aerial doubts.

January 2026 was a triumph as Pascal Gross returned from Borussia Dortmund for £1.7 million, starting and finishing 17 of the last 18 league games to lift Brighton from 14th to eighth and earn a Germany recall. Of the teenagers without league minutes, only Amario Cozier-Duberry currently looks close after nine goals and 13 assists in 37 League One matches for Bolton, with Hurzeler to assess him in pre-season before deciding his next step.

Source: NY Times