Brighton & Hove Albion: Top 10 Most Expensive Signings
Brighton’s transfer model is the envy of the majority of the sides in the Premier League, with the club's ability to find value for money in a fiendishly competitive market being one of the key factors behind their success.
However, value for money doesn’t always mean cheap. There have been occasions when Brighton has shelled out considerable sums for up-and-coming stars from across the continent – sparking debate in fan forums and grabbing the attention of punters assessing the best new bettingsites.
So, who are Brighton’s top ten most expensive players? And how did these transfers pan out?
10. Yves Bissouma
Fee: £15.2m
From: Lille
Date: July 2018
Snapped up from Lille in July 2018, Bissouma didn’t take long to look like a shrewd piece of business, with his composure on the ball and ability to read the game catching the eyes of many – including Tottenham Hotspur, who shelled out £25.7m to secure his services in June 2022.
9. Jürgen Locadia
Fee: £15.3m
From: PSV Eindhoven
Date: January 2018
Following an impressive spell at PSV, Locadia appeared to be an exciting addition to the Brighton front line. Things began brightly, with strikes on his club and Premier League debuts, but failed to ignite as fans would have hoped. Following just 3 goals in 35 appearances, Locadia joined Bochum on a free transfer in 2022.
8. Pervis Estupinan
Fee: £15.7m
From: Villarreal
Date: August 2022
Initially brought to England by Watford in 2016, Estupinan’s career took a while to hit the heights, with loans at five separate Spanish sides preceding a switch to Villarreal in 2020 - before being snapped up by the Seagulls in 2022. Now 26 years old, Estupinan is one of the most admired left-backs in the league.
7. Marc Cucurella
Fee: £15.84m
From: Getafe
Date: August 2021
Another left back recruited from Spain for a shade under £16m, Cucurella’s classy displays throughout the 2021/22 campaign ensured that Brighton made a colossal profit on their outlay. Lining up only 35 times for the Seagulls, Cucurella left for Chelsea in 2022 for £55m.
6. Bart Verbruggen
Fee: £16.3m
From: Anderlecht
Date: July 2023
6ft4in keeper recruited from Anderlecht, having caught the eye of the Brighton scouting department. Taking a little time to bed in between the sticks, Verbruggen is now looking the part. Still only 21 years of age, the Dutch international appears to have all the attributes to make the No. 1 jersey his own for many years.
5. Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Fee: £17m
From: AZ Alkmaar
Date: July 2018
One of the most exciting talents in the Eredivisie during his time with NEC and AZ, Jahanbakhsh’s eye for the spectacular and attacking approach captured the imagination of Seagulls fans in 2018. Unfortunately, the Iranian international never found the consistency to go with his talent on the South Coast, but he did produce the odd moment of magic – including a stunning bicycle kick strike against Chelsea. Alireza is now back in the Dutch league with Feyenoord.
4. Adam Webster
Fee: £20m
From: Bristol City
Date: August 2019
The only Englishman in the top ten, Webster has largely delivered following his 2019 transfer from Bristol City. Despite struggling to conclusively become one of the first names on the team sheet, he has made over 20 appearances for the club in each of his five completed seasons.
3. Enock Mwepu
Fee: £20.24m
From: Red Bull Salzburg
Date: July 2021
Zambian international Mwepu showed immense promise during his two seasons in the Premier League – most notably with a stunning strike at Liverpool. Sadly, Enock was forced to retire from playing at 24 years of age due to a hereditary heart condition. Remaining in the game, he is now a coach at the Brighton Academy.
2. Carlos Baleba
Fee: £23.2m
From: Lille
Date: August 2023
Another picked off the Lille production line, it remains early days for the 20-year-old Cameroonian, but there has been more than enough encouragement in the energetic displays of the central midfielder to suggest that Brighton may have struck gold once again.
1. João Pedro
Fee: £30m
From: Watford
Date: July 2023
Linked with many of the top clubs in the division, the Seagulls ultimately won the race to sign the talented Brazilian forward. Brought in to bring class and goals to the frontline, Pedro has enjoyed an impressive debut season, with 19 strikes in his first 32 games, and, at 22 years old, the best may be yet to come.
Brighton’s transfer model is the envy of the majority of the sides in the Premier League, with the club's ability to find value for money in a fiendishly competitive market being one of the key factors behind their success.
However, value for money doesn’t always mean cheap. There have been occasions when Brighton has shelled out considerable sums for up-and-coming stars from across the continent – sparking debate in fan forums and grabbing the attention of punters assessing the best new bettingsites.
So, who are Brighton’s top ten most expensive players? And how did these transfers pan out?
10. Yves Bissouma
Fee: £15.2m
From: Lille
Date: July 2018
Snapped up from Lille in July 2018, Bissouma didn’t take long to look like a shrewd piece of business, with his composure on the ball and ability to read the game catching the eyes of many – including Tottenham Hotspur, who shelled out £25.7m to secure his services in June 2022.
9. Jürgen Locadia
Fee: £15.3m
From: PSV Eindhoven
Date: January 2018
Following an impressive spell at PSV, Locadia appeared to be an exciting addition to the Brighton front line. Things began brightly, with strikes on his club and Premier League debuts, but failed to ignite as fans would have hoped. Following just 3 goals in 35 appearances, Locadia joined Bochum on a free transfer in 2022.
8. Pervis Estupinan
Fee: £15.7m
From: Villarreal
Date: August 2022
Initially brought to England by Watford in 2016, Estupinan’s career took a while to hit the heights, with loans at five separate Spanish sides preceding a switch to Villarreal in 2020 - before being snapped up by the Seagulls in 2022. Now 26 years old, Estupinan is one of the most admired left-backs in the league.
7. Marc Cucurella
Fee: £15.84m
From: Getafe
Date: August 2021
Another left back recruited from Spain for a shade under £16m, Cucurella’s classy displays throughout the 2021/22 campaign ensured that Brighton made a colossal profit on their outlay. Lining up only 35 times for the Seagulls, Cucurella left for Chelsea in 2022 for £55m.
6. Bart Verbruggen
Fee: £16.3m
From: Anderlecht
Date: July 2023
6ft4in keeper recruited from Anderlecht, having caught the eye of the Brighton scouting department. Taking a little time to bed in between the sticks, Verbruggen is now looking the part. Still only 21 years of age, the Dutch international appears to have all the attributes to make the No. 1 jersey his own for many years.
5. Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Fee: £17m
From: AZ Alkmaar
Date: July 2018
One of the most exciting talents in the Eredivisie during his time with NEC and AZ, Jahanbakhsh’s eye for the spectacular and attacking approach captured the imagination of Seagulls fans in 2018. Unfortunately, the Iranian international never found the consistency to go with his talent on the South Coast, but he did produce the odd moment of magic – including a stunning bicycle kick strike against Chelsea. Alireza is now back in the Dutch league with Feyenoord.
4. Adam Webster
Fee: £20m
From: Bristol City
Date: August 2019
The only Englishman in the top ten, Webster has largely delivered following his 2019 transfer from Bristol City. Despite struggling to conclusively become one of the first names on the team sheet, he has made over 20 appearances for the club in each of his five completed seasons.
3. Enock Mwepu
Fee: £20.24m
From: Red Bull Salzburg
Date: July 2021
Zambian international Mwepu showed immense promise during his two seasons in the Premier League – most notably with a stunning strike at Liverpool. Sadly, Enock was forced to retire from playing at 24 years of age due to a hereditary heart condition. Remaining in the game, he is now a coach at the Brighton Academy.
2. Carlos Baleba
Fee: £23.2m
From: Lille
Date: August 2023
Another picked off the Lille production line, it remains early days for the 20-year-old Cameroonian, but there has been more than enough encouragement in the energetic displays of the central midfielder to suggest that Brighton may have struck gold once again.
1. João Pedro
Fee: £30m
From: Watford
Date: July 2023
Linked with many of the top clubs in the division, the Seagulls ultimately won the race to sign the talented Brazilian forward. Brought in to bring class and goals to the frontline, Pedro has enjoyed an impressive debut season, with 19 strikes in his first 32 games, and, at 22 years old, the best may be yet to come.