All the latest pre-season news for Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season
Brighton and Hove Albion are cranking up their pre-season preparations ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
Albion will head south this week for a pre-season training camp in France and will have two behind closed doors friendlies against Annecy and Strasbourg.
They are due to return to the UK at the beginning of August and have two final tune-ups matches at the Amex Stadium against Italian opponents Roma on August 8 and then Bologna on August 15.
Brighton will also compete in the Uefa Conference League this term and their first competitive test of the campaign is a two-legged play-off, to be played on August 20 and 27. The draw will be made on August 3.
Brighton’s first Premier League match of the season is on August 23 with a home clash against Aston Villa.
Brighton signed Luka Vuskovic from Tottenhamplaceholder image
Brighton signed Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham | BHAFC
Early transfer window business for Brighton
Brighton have already been active in the transfer market as the likes of Luka Vuskovic, Zadok Yohanna, Costinha, Pascal Struijk and Michael Svoboda have all arrived as they try to juggle European and domestic football.
Brighton’s record signing Vuskovic said: “It was always Brighton from the first day. There were a lot of other calls, but as soon as I spoke with the coach, it was just Brighton.
“He told me the style he plays, and it is really nice to see. The league is for sure one of the best in the world, and I really like the project here.”
He added: “I think this club is the biggest machine in the world for producing young players. It gives you even more confidence and motivation to know that the club wants you that much."
Where can Brighton finish?
Well, The Claude AI supercomputer believes Albion’s canny recruitment model and Hurzeler's style of play will keep the Seagulls firmly in the top half. They predict Brighton to finish above old rivals Crystal Palace but below Chelsea. The table is courtesy of Tipman Tips:
Here’s the The 2026/27 Premier League table as predicted by the supercomputer:
1 Arsenal 88 (points) - Defending champions with the title-winning pressure finally off.
2 Manchester City 82 (points) - Guardiola's gone, but Enzo Maresca inherits a squad that barely needs surgery.
3 Chelsea 76 (points) - Xabi Alonso brings the decisiveness this talented-but-erratic squad lacked.
4 Liverpool 74 (points) - Talent is still elite, and a new manager bounce expected with Iraola.
5 Aston Villa 70 (points) - Emery consistency and reigning Europa League champions.
6 Newcastle United 68 (points) - Missed Europe entirely last season which is a blessing in disguise.
7 Manchester United 66 (points) - Michael Carrick's revival continues, however a slip up feels inevitable.
8 Tottenham Hotspur 60 (points) - Roberto De Zerbi replaces the chaos of last season's near-relegation.
9 Brighton 58 (points) - Fabián Hürzeler's progressive project keeps churning out results and player sales.
10 Bournemouth 56 (points) - Some uncertainty there, but the underlying squad and recruitment model are strong.
11 Brentford 54 (points) - Keith Andrews steadies the ship post-Frank; solid, well-drilled mid-table operation.
12 Crystal Palace 52 (points) - Conference League winners with good squad depth.
13 Everton 50 (points) - David Moyes has stabilised them and the new stadium will continue to be a lift.
14 Fulham 48 (points) Steady, unspectacular - usual mid-table Fulham.
15 Nottingham Forest 46 (points) - Talented squad but historically prone to managerial upheaval, which caps their ceiling.
16 Sunderland 44 (points) - Europa League plus a small squad could mean classic "second season syndrome."
17 Leeds United 42 (points) - Survives, but only just - thin margins after a shaky first season back up.
18 Coventry City 40 (points) - A big step up in quality is historically brutal for teams promoted as champions.
19 Hull City 36 (points) - Playoff winners with real momentum, but the tightest budget of the promoted trio.
20 Ipswich Town 34 (points) - Kieran McKenna's exit leaves a lot of uncertainty.