Brighton & Hove Albion enter 2024/25 with a renewed sense of optimism following the drab end to Roberto De Zerbi’s reign.

Led by the Premier League’s youngest-ever manager in Fabian Hurzeler, the Seagulls are somewhat of an unknown commodity but are bound to be a treat to watch.

Hurzeler has a talented squad at his disposal and the German’s fresh ideas should translate smoothly down on the south coast. The Seagulls have a clean bill of health and are emboldened by a litany of new faces, but how far can they go in 2024/25?

Here’s 90min’s preview to Brighton’s upcoming campaign.

A historic Europa League berth took it out of Brighton last season with De Zerbi’s Seagulls fading into mid-table obscurity. Still, many supporters were happy to sacrifice domestic form for their European journey. Brighton’s run, which was cut short in the round of 16, will be remembered in perpetuity on the south coast.

Hurzeler will have aspirations on returning Brighton to the top-half but has his work cut out if he’s to oversee a 2022/23-esque campaign which saw the Seagulls finish sixth.

The club’s recent record in domestic cup competitions is pretty miserable, although they were a penalty shootout away from reaching the FA Cup final in 2023.

There’s still plenty to be determined on the shirt number front for Brighton with none of the club’s summer signings yet assigned their shirts for the upcoming campaign.

The club’s new arrivals have the likes of 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 21 available. Several first-team stars are wearers of unique higher numbers such as Pervis Estupinan (30) and Joel Veltman (34).

*Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window

In

Out

Brighton’s home kit once again features the club’s traditional blue and white stripes, with their players wearing it for the first time in Tokyo during their pre-season tour.

The gold away number harks back to a similar shirt from the 2013/14 campaign, while last season’s green and black away kit has now transitioned to third jersey status.

Home kit

Away kit

Third kit

Who’s going to thrive under new manager Hurzeler?

Only Joao Pedro recorded double-digit goals for Brighton last season, with Simon Adingra and Danny Welbeck (both seven) coming ‘closest’ to matching the Brazilian’s 20-goal haul in all competitions. Hurzeler is a 3-4-3 operator, so Pedro could play a versatile forward function in his set-up which should hand him plenty of freedom. His scoring form last season suggests he may well top the club’s scoring charts in 2024/25.

Kaoru Mitoma will hope to enjoy an injury-free season following his woes last term, but the Japan international shouldn’t be expected to rack up Pedro-like numbers. Mitoma scored just ten times in all competitions during his excellent 2022/23 season.

Pedro’s fiercest competition could come from new signing Yankuba Minteh. The 20-year-old scored ten goals in 27 Eredivisie games with Feyenoord and has enjoyed a productive pre-season with his new club.

There’s certainly reason for optimism with this Brighton team. The Seagulls have once again operated astutely in the market and Hurzeler will have a group of dynamic forwards at his disposal.

However, the German has a huge task on his hands if he’s to oversee an improved campaign. Brighton have lost a key leader and creator in Pascal Gross and it seems Hurzeler will have to lean heavily on new arrival Mats Wieffer and the talented but raw Carlos Baleba in the middle of the park. Will they be able to control games to the extent Hurzeler desires?

Overall, Brighton should be a lot of fun. They’ll score plenty but are bound to surrender a fair few, too. It points towards a mid-table finish.

Brighton 2024/25 Premier League prediction – 11th

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