And it is those challenges which explain why he is among the Albion stars keen to help youngster settle at the club.
The French forward grew up in a small town in Brittany and played for two local teams before heading to the Bundesliga aged 19, where he spent three seasons before moving to Leeds and then Brighton.
The popular forward tempted Albion to pay a club record £40 million when they took him from Leeds.
He is settling into a second season at the club as he fulfils his Premier League ambitions.
But he has recalled how tough times were after he moved from his native Brittany to Germany to play for Hoffenheim, before he came to England.
Rutter played at his local club Vannes from the age of four and came up against older boys.
“My dad knew the trainer so he got me in early.”
Rutter’s dad is from Martinique and his mum from Reunion.
“My dad is George so Georginio is Little George – people think it’s Brazilian.”
Rutter went to a residential football academy when he was 16 and then stayed local when he signed for Rennes.
Georginio signs for Rennes (Image: staderennais.com)
But the big move to Germany at 19 thrust him into a very different world.
He told The Argus: “I was very young, changed country and it was Covid.
“Honestly, after two days there, I said, ‘I think I did something wrong’.
“Because I was there with quarantine. I could see no one.
“I was alone. I couldn't speak English, couldn't speak German. I was lost.
“It was very hard because you don’t have family, you don’t have friends and you are in the hotel alone.
“So it was a bit strange. But the adaptation was very good.
“I could play with the first team and with the 21s in the week, like at the same time.
“That helped me a lot. I scored and I scored quickly.
“First game in Bundesliga, I scored straight away.”
One of the keys for Rutter was striking up a good friendship with Dutch team-mate Melayro Bogarde, who is now at LASK in Austria.
He said: “We are in contact sometimes but he is still my friend forever.
“We don't need to speak every day to know we are friends.
“When you are together with someone every day, it helps a lot.
“I couldn't speak German, I couldn't speak English. He spoke Dutch but German and English as well.
“I don't know how we understood each other, but it was like natural, so good.
“When I came to Leeds, my English was not good.
“In Germany, I wanted to learn German, not English.
“I never took lessons. But my friends, if I make a mistake, they say, ‘It's not this, you have to do this like this’.
“I’ve got a good French accent! But I think my accent is not the worst.
“And the manager at Hoffenheim, Sebastian Hoeness, what he did with me was unbelievable.
“I was a bit like a character. Not bad behaviour, but I was like. ‘I come from France, I want to play, I want to play every game’.
“You know, sometimes you are good in training, you don't understand why you don't play. I was angry a bit.
“I was like this type of player but he changed me in a good way.
“He said, ‘If one day you want to be a Premier League player, if it is your dream, you have to change’.
“It was already my dream, to play in the Premier League.
“After a year, Covid was okay. I got more confidence, I played more game, and I was flying.”
Brighton players Marisa Olislagers and Georginio Rutter visit independent business, Creature Clothes, with Ollie the Australian Labradoodle to browse for treats. Both players are supporting the American Express Shop Small campaign, which aims to support small businesses by encouraging the nation to champion their local high street and enjoy the benefits of ‘shopping small’, whatever their budget. The club sponsor American Express is the founder and principal supporter of Small Business Saturday in the UK, which takes place this year on 6 December 2025. For more information search, Amex Shop Small UKBrighton players Marisa Olislagers and Georginio Rutter visit independent business, Creature Clothes, with Ollie the Australian Labradoodle to browse for treats. Both players are supporting the American Express Shop Small campaign, which aims to support small businesses by encouraging the nation to champion their local high street and enjoy the benefits of ‘shopping small’, whatever their budget. The club sponsor American Express is the founder and principal supporter of Small Business Saturday in the UK, which takes place this year on 6 December 2025. For more information search, Amex Shop Small UK (Image: Paul Hazlewood)
Rutter is speaking at Creature Clothes in Brighton's North Laine as one of the faces of American Express's Shop Small campaign.
He is settled in his new home city and says on a few occasions that time is key. Things get easier with time.
But a bit of support from team-mates can help.
He added: “I understand it's not easy.
“Sometimes everything can be good, sometimes not good, but I know and it's about time and about confidence as well. I think everybody's a good player.
“All players from the Premier League are good players.
“They don't play good sometimes because it's the confidence or, you don't know, maybe the life is not good.
“Everybody knows, like if they have a problem, they can speak with me.
“They know, I'm friendly with every young player. They know how I am.
“I’m never going to judge. I’m going to say positive things because I was like that.”
Georginio Rutter is supporting American Express Shop Small, which aims to support small businesses by encouraging the nation to back their local high street. The campaign, which has been running since 2012, seeks to celebrate small businesses up and down the country, encouraging shoppers to support them and help their local high streets thrive. For more information search, Amex Shop Small UK