Brighton and Hove Albion’s incoming season is looming upon us after England crashed out of the World Cup in pretty devastating fashion… again.

England lost to Argentina, but it wasn’t just the fact of the defeat; it was the manner of it.

Thomas Tuchel pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament, and not in a good way. Parking the bus against an Argentine side, gifting one of the greatest players to ever play the game the freedom that he did was certainly a choice…

The heartbreak continues for England, who, despite a large number of final and semifinal appearances, are still without a major trophy since the famous 1966.

Attention switches immediately to club football. Does anyone really care about the third place play off?

Albion have already had a very busy summer window throughout the World Cup, and it isn’t done there. The arrival of (possible) £50 million record-breaking signing Luka Vuskovic has ignited excitement across the fanbase that they’re in for a good season.

The Seagulls will compete in the Europa Conference League for the first time in their history, and in a European competition for only the second time. While some fans were unsure, it certainly allows for growth for a lot of fringe and young players to progress exponentially.

Chances could be given to players from the U23S squad, and new additions like 19-year-old Zadok Yohanna, and returning loan signings like Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Nehemiah Oriola has recently signed a new contract until 2029, perhaps alluding to further opportunities for the younger players who haven’t been as involved in the first team. Oriola has appeared on the bench on numerous occasions for Hurzeler despite not making many appearances.

He made his debut against Leeds United in a comfortable 3-0 win for the Seagulls last season.

Kaoru Mitoma struggled for fitness for large parts of last season, without mentioning prior years.

The Japanese international was once touted for a possible £90 million move to Saudi Arabia, which feels quite surreal to say at this stage. At 29-years of age and with an unsettled injury record, it would make sense for players like Oriola to be waiting in the wings for their opportunity.

Looking up front, and perhaps there could be room for additions too.

Unless Stefanos Tzimas and Evan Ferguson come back to scoring regularly in the Premier League, it seems as though the Seagulls could be relying on Danny Welbeck for goals again. Welbeck was unlucky to miss out on an England call-up after a stellar campaign in 2025/26, scoring an impressive 13 league goals, his best ever in a Premier League season.

Back in defence, and despite the addition of Vuskovic, the sheer number of departing players could mean more movement this summer.

Adam Webster, Diego Coppola and Jan Paul Van Hecke have all left already, with players like Olivier Boscagli and Igor Julio both with their futures in the balance.

The cry for experience could be vital in pushing this young Brighton team over the line for a first major trophy this season.

Overall, the squad is far from complete, and a very busy few weeks lie ahead. This could be one of the most anticipated Brighton seasons for some time, with the head coach certainly being backed in the market.