Brighton’s best sales so far

Talking about Brighton & Hove Albion FC today is talking about one of the best-managed clubs in Europe, which has led them to be recognized for their sporting and business success. The Seagulls developed their own philosophy in many ways. That has brought them much success over time, with the central figure being Tony Bloom, the club owner, a millionaire businessman who made his fortune in the poker world. However, the most important thing about Tony in relation to Brighton is that he is from the city and a fan of the club since childhood.

Bloom bought the club in 2009 in League One, in 2011 they achieved promotion to the Championship and in 2017 to the Premier League, going through an enormous evolution that began with training sessions in the field of a university to their own first-level facilities and even a new stadium. All thanks to the excellent management that has allowed the club to take firm steps to reach its current level.

This good management also includes a great job of scouting, training players, using a club that is also owned by Bloom to develop talents (Union SG), and projection of players that has allowed the club to achieve sales that today in day amaze the world. It’s hard to say if this was planned or just a natural evolution of the Brighton model, but the numbers are very clear: around €420m in sales in the last three years.

Of the ten most expensive sales in the club’s history, nine were completed in the last three seasons, which shows that the club has been able to find and promote talent and get other clubs to bet heavily on them to make such elevated payments. An example is that of Alexis Mac Callister, who was signed at the age of 21 from Argentinos Juniors in 2019 for 9 million euros for 90% of his rights, where he would remain on loan for six months and then be loaned again; this time to Boca Juniors.

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When the Seagulls judged that the Argentine was ready to play in England, they gave him a chance in the first team. Three years later, he was sold to Liverpool for 42 million euros with an option to reach 60 if certain conditions are met. Another example is that of Marc Cucurella, who came to the club from Getafe for 18 million euros in the summer of 2021, and after 38 games with Brighton, Chelsea bought him for 60 million euros just one year later.

Perhaps the most notorious example lately is that of the Ecuadorian midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who, thanks to his amazing appearances with Independiente del Valle in his country (another very well-managed club, by the way) in 2021, drew the attention of several English clubs such as Manchester United. However, Brighton went ahead, and upon paying 4 million euros, they took over the rights of the Ecuadorian. He was initially loaned out to Belgian side Beerschot, to later establish himself at Brighton and be sold this summer for 113 million euros to Chelsea.

Official: Moisés Caicedo signs in as new Chelsea player on £115m package deal plus sell on clause 🚨🔵🇪🇨 #CFC pic.twitter.com/rin2bMXr3l

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2023

Several names are being left out, such as Yves Bissouma, Robert Sánchez, or Leandro Trossard, as well as the next big sales of the club, which can already be visualized as Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson or Julio Enciso, guaranteeing the future of the project and giving people an idea that the management is still adequate.