He's back, but is he truly valued? Discover how this midfield maestro quietly improves Brighton.
Pascal Groß rejoined Brighton and Hove Albion only 519 days after departing for Borussia Dortmund on an £8 million deal.
He returned for just under £3 million, another great piece of business for Albion!
How has he actually done since?
When Groß first returned, the hype around his name was incredible.
As a fanbase, we all missed him. It wasn’t just the chances created and countless incredible memories, but simply having him around the squad and in front of the fans was enough to lift anyone in a bad moment.
It was so special that every touch of his ‘second debut’ against Burnley was cheered by the whole crowd. No matter where he was on the pitch, in classic Pascal Groß fashion, all over the place.
The chant “he’s here, he’s there, he’s every f***ing where, Pascal Groß!” started at that very moment!
But once again, we’re doing the same thing. For his first seven years at the club, it was safe to say he was underrated. Not just as a current player at the club, but also in world football.
His chance creation ability was second to none across the squad, but still, his value on the pitch never felt as stable.
Is he still underrated?
When you watch the game, you may not see Pascal Groß, but when you watch Pascal Groß, you see the game. The motto rings true, and it has been done over every year of every season, every game.
After the initial hype died down, we’re in the same situation again. Some fans have even questioned his return, wondering if it was “worth it?” Concerns over losing his pace (which he never actually had in the first place), and most significantly, his worth!
These same questions rang around the fanbase when Graham Potter was in charge at Brighton, too. Despite being one of the most productive and undervalued talents in the squad.
Because of his lack of pace, aesthetically, he often goes unnoticed. Realistically, we’re just back in the same position. Undeniably, since his return, Brighton have improved. Fabian Hürzeler has been desperately lacking experienced players to help balance the squad.
A bloated, talented young team has proven difficult for Hürzeler to get the best out of. Since Groß returned, Brighton have increased the average age of the squad significantly.
Albion named the youngest starting 11 back in December, averaging 23 years and 240 days. Conversely, in February 2026, the average age of Hurzeler’s starting XI was 28 years and 355 days, their oldest in the Premier League this season.
A similar trend has followed since. With the likes of James Milner, Lewis Dunk, Danny Welbeck, and Pascal Groß (all 30+), starting their lion's share of their games.
The need for experience was clear to see, and the alignment of wins and upturn in form correlates to their influx of ‘older’ players.
Pascal Groß’s influence is second to none across these players. Only Lewis Dunk has the grounds to get close to the legendary status of the German amongst the squad, and this carries across to the pitch. There’s further reassurance when a player like Groß is controlling the midfield.
A lessened worry and a breath of fresh air for Hürzeler.
Before Groß came back, Albion were struggling with consistency and general game management. There is no surprise that the senior players of the squad have stepped up to deliver stability to Albion.
Back to basics, and it’s working for now.