Brighton and Hove Albion

After winning only one of their final 10 Premier League matches, Brighton finished 11th in 2023/24, with coach Roberto De Zerbi departing the club at the end of a campaign where they played European football for the first time in their history. Despite that drop in form, the Seagulls punched well above their weight once again taking into account that they have one of the lowest wage bills in the league. Aged 31, former St. Pauli boss Fabian Hurzeler has become the youngest permanent head coach in the EPL. Hurzeler has overseen an overhaul in midfield, with experienced midfielders Adam Lallana and Pascal Gross departing the club and talented players Mats Wieffer and Malick Yalcouye joining the team. For yet another year, Brighton have combed the market to unearth gems, spending big to bring in youngsters Ibrahim Osman and Yankuba Minteh from Nordsjælland and Newcastle, respectively . The club has stressed that Hurzeler has a style of play that aligns with how they want Brighton to play football. Using a 3-4-3 formation, his St. Pauli conceded the fewest goals in the German second tier, with Hurzeler leading them to Bundesliga promotion. It should also be noted that he gives plenty of emphasis on attack and is used to developing young players. Brighton’s main strength is that they are a team full of talent in almost every position, with the club demonstrating over the last years that departures of key players rarely affect the team. Yet, the lack of both the coach’s and players’ experience could prove costly next season, as Brighton currently boast the second youngest squad in the league.