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Brighton head into the 2026-27 Premier League season with plenty still to figure out.

European matches are back on Brighton’s calendar for only the second time in the club’s history – so why does the mood around it feel slightly underwhelming?

The Seagulls are likely to be viewed as one of the leading contenders to lift the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League, given the enormous financial edge Premier League clubs tend to hold in that tournament. Some supporters are already thinking ahead to next June’s final in Istanbul, even though the qualifying play-off draw on August 3 will determine who they actually face.

The reality, however, is that Fabian Hurzeler’s team limped to the finish. Defeats in their last two matches meant they were left relying on other results to discover whether they would end up in the Europa League, the Conference League, or outside Europe altogether.

Even so, for a club of Albion’s stature, finishing in the top half of the Premier League four times in five years remains a notable achievement. Brighton also already know from 2023-24 how much Thursday-night football can affect league form.

There were also clear signs last season that performances dipped whenever first-choice players in crucial positions were missing. That highlighted a shortage of depth in the squad, particularly in the wide attacking areas.

How well Brighton cope may come down to recruitment, especially with three experienced figures – Solly March, Adam Webster and James Milner – departing. Right-back Costinha is set to be available, as are centre-backs Luka Vuskovic and Pascal Struijk, while young AIK winger Zadok Yohanna looks like another signing straight from the Tony Bloom blueprint.

Fabian Hurzeler’s remarks on Arsenal’s style of play may not have gone down well with Mikel Arteta, but they were appreciated by Brighton supporters, many of whom had found it difficult to connect with the 33-year-old manager before that. He now appears increasingly settled in the Premier League.

The average age of Brighton’s squad is expected to drop sharply this summer, which makes dressing-room leadership especially important. Pascal Gross, now 35, never relied on pace anyway, but he still offers outstanding technical quality and tactical intelligence in midfield – both of which will be essential across a long and demanding campaign.

PREMIER LEAGUE: 8th

FA CUP: Fourth Round

LEAGUE CUP: Fourth Round

Danny Welbeck was Brighton’s top scorer last season, netting 14 in all competitions.

There is a chance, though, that the striker may not be at Brighton for this season, with a move to Chelsea a possibility.

There is no need for alarm just yet. On Valentine’s Day, after FA Cup elimination and with only one victory in 13 league matches, the Seagulls looked more like a side battling relegation.

A small but noisy section of the fanbase wanted Hurzeler removed. But Bloom kept faith with his head coach, and a return of seven wins in the following 10 matches gave Brighton an outside shot at Champions League qualification on the final day.

Ultimately, they had to make do with a place in the Conference League, but the owner’s calm backing of his manager paid off.

And with rivals Crystal Palace proving that even a team struggling in the Premier League can still win Europe’s third-tier competition, Albion supporters will expect this second continental adventure to be about more than simply enjoying the trip.

Appeal to golfers. Nike’s shirt marking the club’s 125th anniversary will be worn for only one match, but it would not look out of place on a golf course.

Appoint Sean Dyche as director of football and dismiss data-led recruitment as “woke nonsense”.

Last season was a genuine rollercoaster, with a severe slump in the middle of the campaign turning hopes of Europe into fears of away days at Swansea, Cardiff and Lincoln. What followed after that was an extraordinary recovery.

This season will be different because the Conference League will stretch the squad further. But our younger players are also a year older and a year wiser.

Our key player will be Danny Welbeck, because of his leadership, his work rate and, of course, his threat in front of goal.

Look out for 19-year-old attacker Charalampos ‘Babis’ Kostoulas, who has had short spells on the pitch to help him settle in. His overhead kick against Bournemouth offered a glimpse of just how gifted he could be.

The opposition player I’d love here is Igor Thiago, who might quite enjoy playing European football. He would suit our system.

I won’t be happy unless we stop the rot against Palace. Since Fabian Hurzeler came in, our displays in those matches have not been good enough.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is not quite as positive as people might think, even after two 8th-place finishes. Roberto De Zerbi left big shoes to fill. Still, it did feel as if sentiment began to shift once results improved.

The ground I’m least looking forward to visiting is Selhurst Park, a ramshackle place with poor sightlines and outdated facilities.

Our biggest grudge match will be against Chelsea. No doubt they will be shopping from us again.

We’ll finish 8th again.

AUGUST

23 Aston Villa (H)

29 Chelsea (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Leeds (H)

12 Coventry (A)

19 Arsenal (H)

OCTOBER

10 Sunderland (A)

17 Crystal Palace (H)

24 Liverpool (A)

31 Man City (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Brentford (H)

21 Hull City (A)

28 Newcastle (H)

DECEMBER

2 Bournemouth (A)

5 Nott'm Forest (A)

12 Everton (H)

19 Ipswich (H)

26 Fulham (A)

30 Tottenham (A)

JANUARY

2 Man United (H)

6 Bournemouth (H)

16 Brentford (A)

23 Man City (H)

30 Newcastle (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Hull City (H)

10 Man United (A)

20 Tottenham (H)

27 Ipswich (A)

MARCH

3 Fulham (H)

13 Leeds (A)

20 Coventry (H)

APRIL

10 Aston Villa (A)

17 Chelsea (H)

24 Everton (A)

MAY

1 Nott'm Forest (H)

8 Sunderland (H)

15 Crystal Palace (A)

23 Liverpool (H)

30 Arsenal (A)

Brighton to win the 2026/27 Premier League title odds: 175/1

FourFourTwo verdict: Brighton to finish 9th.

A great deal may rest on how new Croatian club-record signing Vuskovic adapts. The 19-year-old arrives from Spurs for £46m and is expected to replace fellow central defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who has been sold to Spurs for £52m.

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine’s renowned Season Preview issue.