Groß goes to Dortmund, Buonanotte linked to Feyenoord, & other Brighton news from the last 7 days (Brighton news roundup July 28 - Aug. 3)
A legend says goodbye.
After months of speculation, Albion legend Pascal Groß has finally left the club. Let’s go over his departure and all the other Brighton news from the last seven days.
Transfer News
Incoming Transfers
Diego Gómez (update) - Albion finalizing a deal for Paraguay international
Top-tier MLS reporter Tom Bogert reported this week that Brighton are finalizing a deal for Paraguay international Diego Gómez. His report says the total deal will be worth around $18m (£14m).
Gómez will stay with his club side Inter Miami until the end of the 2024 MLS season. The midfielder will join Brighton in January.
Nicolás González - Brighton and Forest enquire about Fiorentina winger
It wouldn’t be a transfer window without Brighton being linked to a fringe Serie A star. This time it’s Fiorentina winger Nicolás González. The two-time Copa América winner has been strongly linked to Juventus. However, Argentine outlet Olé insists that González is still on the radar of Brighton and Nottingham Forest and that the clubs have enquired about him.
The Seagulls were last linked to González in April. He was also reportedly a Brighton transfer target in 2021 when González was still at VfB Stuttgart.
Carlos Soler - Brighton target linked to Real Sociedad
Spanish side Real Sociedad are closing in on PSG midfielder Carlos Soler. The Paris club are looking to offload Soler for as little as £15m. Real Sociedad lead the race to sign him right now. However, West Ham and Brighton remain interested, according to L’Equipe.
Outgoing Transfers
Pascal Groß - Dortmund confirm signing of Albion club legend
If you haven’t heard by now, Pascal Groß has finally left Brighton and Hove Albion. After seven years with the Albion, Der Kaiser has left to play for his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund. Most reports claim BVB paid €7m (£6m) plus add-ons for Groß.
Groß penned a heartfelt letter to Brighton fans that you can find on the club’s website here. Der Kaiser leaves Brighton as the club’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer with 30 goals. He also tops the all-time assist list with 45. Groß assisted 16% of Brighton’s Premier League goals
Facundo Buonanotte (update) - Feyenoord agree to loan deal with buy option
Last week, reports from the Netherlands claimed that Feyenoord had opened talks with Brighton about signing Facundo Buonanotte on loan. The reports said the clubs were still negotiating whether to include a buy option in the deal.
A new report from 1908nl now claims the sides have agreed to a deal with a buy option. The Dutch outlet says Buonanotte will spend next season on loan with Feyenoord and that the buy option is "quite high.” Specifically, it’s believed the buy option is close to double Feyenoord’s current transfer record of €8.3m (£7m).
Deniz Undav (update) - Negotiations with Stuttgart stall
While the Pascal Groß transfer saga wrapped up this week, the Deniz Undav story lingers on. German newspaper Stuttgarter Nachrichten reported that VfB Stuttgart bid €30m (£25.5m) for the forward. Brighton rejected the offer and did not counter.
Other reports claim Undav has made it clear that he does not want to stay at Brighton under any circumstances. However, German outlet BW24 reports that Stuttgart are beginning to question whether Undav is worth signing. The 28-year-old has requested a four-year contract. Stuttgart are currently only willing to give him a three-year deal.
João Pedro - Arsenal interested in Brighton forward
Football Transfers have reported that Arsenal are “showing interest” in the Seagulls’ top goalscorer from last season, João Pedro. The Gunners may turn to Brighton’s Brazilian after failing to sign multiple other forward targets.
The report says that the Albion would be willing to sell Pedro for £50m. It’s worth noting that Football Transfers reported in January 2023 that Brighton and Arsenal had agreed to a deal for Moisés Caicedo. So, this rumor might not be that credible.
Yasin Ayari - Blackburn Rovers rule out loan signing
Swedish midfielder Yasin Ayari has been one of Brighton’s best players this preseason. The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Riversiders boss John Eustace hinted earlier in the window that he was interested in bringing Ayari back. The midfielder also told Swedish newspaper Expressen that he enjoyed his time with Blackburn. EFL reporter Alan Nixon reported this week that a second loan to Blackburn for Ayari is “unlikely.”
Malick Yalcouye - Brighton undecided on wonderkid’s future
When Brighton signed Malick Yalcouye from IFK Göteborg, everyone assumed he would be immediately loaned out to another club. FotbollDirekt, a Swedish football news site, says Brighton are now considering keeping Yalcouye around instead.
The 18-year-old has impressed in training and in Brighton’s preseason matches so far. The club now wonder whether Yalcouye should be given the chance to compete for a place in the first team this season.
Other News
Brighton win friendly at QPR 1-0
The Seagulls played their penultimate preseason friendly on Saturday against QPR. 7,767 fans—including 2,919 traveling Brighton fans—saw the Albion beat the Hoops 1-0 at Loftus Road. Danny Welbeck was the only goalscorer. The veteran struck home a penalty in the 53rd minute after Yankuba Minteh was fouled in the box.
Mats Wieffer made his preseason debut for Brighton in the match. Facundo Buonanotte also played, despite rumors that say he has agreed to leave the club.
Albion announce away kit
Brighton released their away kit for the 2024/25. The “University Gold” kit is a throwback to the 2013/14 away kit. The club’s announcement also revealed that the 2024/25 away kit will not become the third kit for the 2025/26 season, meaning there could be three new Albion kits next season.
Julio Enciso suffers injury with Paraguay at the Olympics
Paraguay star Julio Enciso left the field in Los Guaraníes’ match against Egypt with an apparent hamstring injury. He was seen crying on the sidelines, which caused many to think it was a severe injury.
However, ESPN’s Roberto Rojas and The Athletic’s Andy Naylor have reported that the injury is not a serious one. Enciso should be fit to play in Brighton’s Premier League opener against Everton on August 17th.
Brighton Women bulk up backroom staff
Albion women have signed Perry Northeast as the club’s new women’s and girls’ academy manager. Northeast previously served as the club’s technical director and as a first-team coach.
Brighton women have also appointed Alek Gross to be the club’s new women’s and girls’ head of performance and medical. He last worked for Nottingham Forest in the same role.
Under-21 and Under-18 team fixtures announced
If watching the senior team is not enough for you, you can tune in to the U21 and U19 matches this season. Both sides’ fixtures for the upcoming Premier League 2 and Premier League South seasons have been announced. See the U21 fixtures here and U19 fixtures here.