Brighton begin the 2026-27 Premier League season aiming to build on last term's eighth-place finish, which secured Europa Conference League qualification, but head coach Fabian Hürzeler faces significant squad rebuilding after losing several key figures. Forward Danny Welbeck has departed for Chelsea, defender Jan Paul van Hecke has been sold to Tottenham, and veterans James Milner and Solly March have also left the club, leaving a much-changed squad to cope with the added demands of European fixtures. Guardian writers predict a ninth-place finish this season, reflecting cautious optimism tempered by the scale of turnover.

Van Hecke's £52m move to Spurs brought teenager Luka Vuskovic to Brighton in return, continuing the club's reputation for astute recruitment underpinned by owner Tony Bloom's Jamestown Analytics data operation, though not all signings have succeeded. Off the pitch, a £40m modernisation project is expanding safe standing at the Amex during September's international break, alongside a new premium matchday lounge. Bloom, who has boosted his financial backing of the club to a £400m loan, remains central to Brighton's continued stability, while Hürzeler, still only 33, continues to develop as head coach amid periodic scrutiny.