Brighton’s 2025–26 summer transfer window was relatively quiet compared to last year. The Seagulls brought in six new arrivals, compared with more than 10 the previous summer.
The understanding within the club is that the primary objective this year was to trim the squad, focusing on outgoings rather than incomings. The club also aimed to complete much of the business early, allowing them to avoid the usual deadline-day scramble. The window is viewed as a success, with objectives achieved and no major issues reported.
The trimming of the squad has resulted in an exodus with the likes of Joao Pedro, Simon Adingra, Julio Enciso, Pervis Estupinan and others either being sold or leaving on loan.
Another clear indication from the club was that key players were firmly off-limits. The likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Carlos Baleba and Jan Paul Van Hecke were considered essential to retain. BBC Sport understands that no serious bids were received for any of them, including Baleba, despite the links to Manchester United, and the club made it clear to potential suitors that they were not for sale.
Among Brighton’s new recruits, 18-year-old Greek forward Charalampos Kostoulas was the most significant outlay of the summer, costing the club £29.8m. Kostoulas’ signing reflected the club’s blended approach to recruitment. Sources told BBC Sport that the deal combined data-driven analysis with traditional scouting, with internal recommendations and scouting reports both influencing the decision.
Another Greek forward, Stefanos Tzimas, joined the Seagulls this summer after his loan concluded with German club FC Nurnberg. However, both Kostoulas and Tzimas have to be carefully managed following injury setbacks. The club is prioritising gradual integration rather than rushing them into first-team action, with both expected to feature in squads in the coming weeks. The club’s stance is that there are no plans for either player to go out on loan, and they will likely feature heavily for the under 21s.
Overall, the Seagulls’ summer shows a club committed to strategic planning and stability. With core players secured and the squad balanced, Brighton are now focused on the season ahead, confident that the summer’s work has laid a strong foundation.
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