In one of the less surprising deals of the summer transfer window, Ben White made a big-money move to Arsenal for a fee of £50 million. Brighton & Hove Albion fans always knew that their prized academy product would be subject to numerous bids from top clubs, and it was more of a question of where, not if, he would go. Does this represent a stunning piece of business for the club or will the defender leave a gaping hole in Graham Potter’s side?
Brighton Always Seemed They Would Sell
Brighton fans didn’t know much about White until he went out on loan to Leeds United and became a key component of Marcelo Bielsa’s 2019-20 Championship-winning side. The Poole-born centre-back had been loaned out to Newport County and Peterborough United in the two seasons before that. However, seeing as those sides were playing in the lower echelons of the English football pyramid, it was mainly people who followed those clubs that knew what White could do.
After Leeds earned a promotion to the Premier League, they were desperate to sign White permanently. However, Potter was adamant that the player was firmly in his plans. The 23-year-old did become an integral part of the Seagulls to help them to their 16th-place finish last term, but this could have been a ploy by the board to add more value to White’s stock.
It seems to have done the trick as well. In the last term, when clubs like Leeds were enquiring about White’s price, Brighton reportedly valued him around £30 million. Simply by having him stay as a first-team regular for one campaign, Potter managed to add £20 million to White’s value. Despite many fans believing that White should have gone on to be a crucial member of the team for many years to come, this sale represents a solid-looking bit of business for Brighton.
Brighton Should Manage Without White
Selling White to Brighton hasn’t really had much of an impact on their odds for the upcoming season. Indeed, those who bet on football at Space Casino will see that the Seagulls are expected to do even better than the last term and can be backed at 7/1 to make the top six. This may be because Potter’s side will be buoyed by their strong finish to the previous campaign and that they now have £50 million with which they can use to enhance the squad.
Despite White being a key player last time out, Brighton should be able to manage without him. The Seagulls’ defence has been traditionally solid for a team of their stature, thanks to the experience of Lewis Dunk. White’s versatility will be missed, as he was able to drop in as a defensive midfielder at times last term. However, Potter has enough options at his disposal to plug the gap that the Englishman left.
It is a shame to let go of a player with great potential, but the sale of White for £50 million looks like a shrewd deal for Brighton. Potter can now use the funds to strengthen and solidify the Seagulls’ position in the league.
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