All the latest team news for Brighton and Hove Albion after the transfer window
One of the best pieces of business for Brighton during the summer transfer window was keeping hold of star midfielder Carlos Baleba.
The Cameroon international was in high-demand as Manchester United pushed for his signature.
The Seagulls however were firm in the valuation and their demand of "Moises Caicedo" type money ultimately thwarted United's attempt, for this window at least.
Baleba, 21, insists he is happy at Brighton but is yet to complete 90 minutes for Fabian Hurzeler’s team this term as he returns to full fitness following a pre-season knee issue.
He played 69 minutes in the 1-1 home draw against Fulham, he was hooked at halftime in the 2-0 loss at Everton for "tactical reasons" and was then replaced on the hour for Brighton's memorable 2-1 win against Manchester City at the Amex Stadium last Sunday.
The Seagulls, along with the rest of the Premier League, have now paused for the international break and Baleba's Cameroon are in World Cup qualifying action tomorrow against Eswatini at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Cameroon. On Tuesday they travel to Cape Verde.
Baleba will hope to be fully fit as Brighton get back to Premier League action on September 13 at Bournemouth.
The games Carlos Baleba will miss for Brighton
Brighton will though likely have to make do without their midfield star in December as the AFCON cup gets underway in Morocco.
Cameroon’s opener is against Gabon on 24 December, 2025 at the Adrar Stadium, Morocco. They then take on The Ivory Coast at the Marrakech Stadium on 28 December, before returning to the Adrar Stadium for their final group match against Mozambique on 31 December.
The festive period is always hectic for the Seagulls and they will likely be without Baleba for the trip to Arsenal on 27 December and West Ham away on 30 December. Brighton then face Burnley at the Amex on 3 January.
Any further fixtures missed will depend on Cameroon’s progress at AFCON. The final will take place on January 18 in Rabat, Morocco, at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium - which is between Brighton's home match against Bournemouth on 17 January and the trip to Fulham on 24 January.
Yankuba Minteh’s Gambia failed to qualify for AFCON 2025 as they finished bottom of Group A in qualifying.
The AFCON tournament was moved to the late 2025/early 2026 schedule to avoid conflicts with the expanded Fifa Club World Cup in June-July 2025.
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