Looking Back at Brighton's 2025/26 Season – Progress, Frustration and Why There's Still Plenty to Believe In
As Brighton fans, we've become spoiled in the best possible way.
Not long ago, survival in the Premier League was the dream. A scrappy 1–0 at home, a few points above the relegation zone and we'd all be delighted. Now? We spend seasons talking about Europe, tactical identities, squad depth and whether seventh or eighth feels like a missed opportunity.
That says everything about how far this football club has come.
The 2025/26 campaign felt like one of those seasons that never quite sat still. There were moments where you thought, this side could genuinely finish among the elite, and others where you sat in the Amex wondering how we'd managed to throw away points yet again. Brighton spent much of the season around the European places and remained in the hunt late into the campaign.
But football seasons are rarely simple stories.
Hürzeler's Brighton Taking Shape
Fabian Hürzeler continued building his version of Brighton, and there were signs that his ideas are taking shape. The intensity was there, the bravery on the ball was there, and when it clicked, Albion looked brilliant to watch.
And that's the thing with this club — Brighton never really does boring anymore.
We had those games where everything flowed. The sort of performances where the passing moved quickly, the press worked perfectly and you looked at bigger clubs thinking, you genuinely don't fancy playing us today. Results like the wins over top sides reminded everyone that Albion can still bloody anyone on their day.
Then Came The Other Side Of Brighton
The frustrating side. The side where we'd dominate possession, create chances and somehow leave with a draw or defeat. Defensive inconsistency felt like the story hanging over the season. Earlier concerns around goals conceded and finding balance at the back never entirely disappeared.
And if you're an Albion fan, you know exactly what that feeling is like.
You walk out of the stadium saying:
"How have we not won that?"
Then you repeat it two weeks later.
Individual Stories Stood Out
Danny Welbeck deserves enormous credit. Seeing him continue to contribute and lead from the front felt brilliant, and his goals proved hugely important through the season.
The younger players also continued that Brighton tradition of making supporters think:
"Who on earth have our recruitment team found this time?"
Because that remains one of the most remarkable things about this football club. We lose players, replace players, evolve managers, adapt systems — and somehow the machine keeps moving.
That isn't luck anymore.
That's structure.
That's Tony Bloom.
That's years of smart planning.
A Season Hard To Judge
And perhaps that's why this season feels difficult to judge. Finishing around the European places again is objectively a strong campaign for Brighton. A club of our size repeatedly competing in that area of the table is remarkable.
But football isn't judged objectively when you're emotionally attached.
As supporters, we don't remember league position alone.
We remember the points dropped from winning positions.
We remember games we should have won.
We remember leaving the Amex feeling like an opportunity had slipped away.
Yet after the frustration fades, perspective usually returns.
This Is Still Brighton & Hove Albion
Still a club that was fighting for Premier League survival not long ago. Still a club with one of the youngest and most exciting projects in English football. Still a club whose future feels exciting.
Fabian Hürzeler committing his future to the club suggests there is belief internally that the journey is only beginning.
So if I had to sum up Brighton's 2025/26 season in one sentence?
Not perfect.
Not disappointing.
Just another chapter in a football club that keeps refusing to stand still.
Up the Albion. 💙🤍