**Caylan Vickers** joined **Brighton** from **Reading** on February 1, 2024, for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old spent a year in _the Seagulls_' U21 side before being sent on his first loan move.
The Englishman rejected **Real Madrid** to join _The Seagulls_, so what can he bring to Brighton? And where will he fit in?
**VAVEL** explores all here.
Vickers started his youth career in the Reading academy and moved up to their U18s side on July 1, 2021, when he was just 16 years old.
While in the youth academy he played one game for the U18s.
This came in the 2020/21 season, just two months before permanently joining the side.
He played 90 minutes in a 6-1 loss against **Arsenal** U18.
However, he did pick up an assist.
After being promoted to the Reading U18 team at the start of the 2021/22 season, he immediately established himself as a key part of the squad.
He played 2,339 minutes across 32 games, scoring five goals and providing five assists.
He played 24 games in the **U18 Premier League**.
He scored against **Birmingham** U18, **West Brom** U18, **Arsenal** U18, **Spurs** U18, and **Aston Villa** U18.
And he assisted against Spurs U18, Aston Villa U18 x2, and **Norwich** U18 x2.
He also played two **FA Youth Cup** fixtures for the U18s.
Vickers was also given a few opportunities in the U21s squad where he played six **Premier League 2** games.
In the 2022/23 season he only played one game, which was against **Everton** U18 in the FA Youth Cup.
Come the 2023/24 season and Vickers was part of the Reading first team.
In **League One** he played 619 minutes across 14 games.
He scored in a 2-1 victory against **Bolton,** and he assisted in a 1-0 win over **Cheltenham**.
He also played two games in the **EFL Cup** and one game in the **FA Cup**.
He assisted against **Millwall** in the EFL Cup.
In the EFL Trophy he played five games, in which he scored and assisted against **Exeter City**.
And he also scored against Arsenal U21.
Throughout the season he also played two U21 games in the Premier League 2.
He scored and assisted in a 7-2 thrashing of **Blackburn** U21, and he scored against **Leicester** U21.
Vickers caught the eye of many clubs with his performances throughout the first few months of the season.
So, on January Deadline Day 2024, he secured a permanent transfer to Brighton after reportedly rejecting Real Madrid.
He was put into the U21s squad.
In his first few months with his new club, he played 693 minutes across nine games.
He scored against **Sunderland** U21.
And he assisted against **Stoke** U21 and **Chelsea** U21.
The youngster remained in the U21s squad for the start of this season.
In 15 games he scored six goals and picked up two assists.
In the Premier League 2 he scored a brace against **Southampton** U21.
However, his best performance came in a 10-0 embarrassment of rivals **Crystal Palace**.
He scored a hat-trick and provided two assists.
In the EFL Trophy he also scored against **League Two** **AFC Wimbledon**.
Vickers was dominating in the youth league, so the decision was made to send him on loan to expose him to senior football.
On February 3, 2025, he joined League One **Mansfield Town** on loan.
So far, he has played 895 minutes across 12 games in League One.
He has scored against **Barnsley** and **Bristol Rovers,** and he has assisted against **Blackpool**.
Many fans have also praised his incredible performances in his first 12 games.
Usually, the next section is a breakdown of the player's international career, but Vickers is yet to receive a call-up at any level.
While he is English, he is of Indian descent through his mother so there may be an opportunity for him to represent them if he chooses to do so.
Vickers is another young player that perfectly fits the Brighton model.
He is a versatile, pacey attacking midfielder who can also play anywhere in the forward line.
He has a combination of agility, technical skill, and speed, which makes him an extremely dynamic presence wherever he is on the pitch.
In terms of style and profile, he is similar to the likes of **Bayern Munich**'s **Michael Olise**, **Chelsea**'s **Jason Sancho**, **Arsenal**'s **Bukayo Saka**, and **Manchester City**'s **Jeremy Doku**.
He has also been compared to **Jude Bellingham** by **Paul Lambert**.
He compared the two in terms of mentality and their potential for development.
He also stated how they are both energetic, skilful, and have a strong work ethic.
When looking at all the players he is similar to, the trend seems to be technical ability, versatility, acceleration, low centre of gravity, and dynamism.
If he can produce these attributes at the top level, then there is no doubt he will become a superstar and one of Brighton's next big sales.
Vickers has come through the English youth system and pyramid, so he has been tested in a variety of positions.
He has played two games as a central midfielder.
His attacking attributes do not suit that of a six or an eight and Brighton already have **Jack Hinshelwood**, **Yasin Ayari**, **Diego Gómez**, **Matt O'Riley**, **Carlos Baleba**, and **Mats Wieffer** as midfield options.
And they have **Malick Yalcouyé** out on loan.
So, it seems near impossible Vickers will be played in midfield.
He has played three games as a second striker, in which he picked up one assist.
He has the profile to play here, but he has a lot of competition in **Georginio Rutter** and **João Pedro**.
There is certainly a chance he is used here, and it seems on of the more probable positions **Fabian Hürzeler** would play him in.
The only problem is his lack of experience in this position.
The 20-year-old has played five games as a right winger.
He scored one goal.
Brighton's right wing position is a very unique one that requires a lot of focus, defensive contribution, and a ridiculous amount of stamina.
Vickers definitely has the work rate and quality to be able to do it, but as of this moment the position is **Yankuba Minteh's** and there is no taking it away from him.
_The Seagulls_ also have **Simon Adingra** and **Solly March** as right sided options.
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Adingra's future so if he does depart then there may be a huge opportunity for Vickers.
He has played eight games as a left midfielder, in which he scored three goals and provided one assist.
Hürzeler does not use a left midfielder in his formation.
So, it is safe to say Vickers will not be played here if the German is still at the club next season.
As previously said, Vickers is very versatile.
He has three main positions.
His first is left wing.
In this position he has played 17 games, scored four goals and picked up one assist.
He suits how Hürzeler likes his left winger to play, but if he breaks into the squad he will be behind **Kaoru Mitoma**, **Ibrahim Osman**, and new signing **Tommy Watson**.
Of course, there is a small chance he will be played here, but at the moment it seems unlikely.
His second main position is as an attacking midfielder.
As the 'number 10' he has played 19 games, in which he has scored nine goals and assisted six.
15 goal contributions in 19 games is very impressive.
Brighton have a lot of attacking midfielders.
**Brajan Gruda**, Rutter, Pedro, and O'Riley can all play as the number 10.
And players out on loan such as **Facundo Bounanotte** and **Julio Enciso** can also play as an attacking midfielder.
All six of the mentioned players are highly likely to be ahead of Vickers next season.
On the flip side, if he does get a chance in this position, then he certainly has the quality and potential to force his way into being the first or second choice.
Vickers' other main position is as a striker.
In 20 games he has scored one goal and provided six assists.
Statistically that is not very good for a striker.
But he has the clinical finishing to score many more goals than he has so far.
And if he shows that in the remaining few games of the season then there may be another opportunity for him.
Brighton's number nine position is somewhat one of uncertainty for next season.
**Danny Welbeck** is getting older, **Evan Ferguson** is not performing on loan, **Stefanos Tzimas** is an unknown quantity at the moment, and **Josh Duffus**' contract situation is up in the air.
There is also the question of if the club will be able to keep hold of Pedro in the summer.
There has been reports of **Tony Bloom** wanting to bring in a new striker, so there is an opening heading into next season.
Whether Vickers can make it his remains to be seen.
The likely outcome is another loan, but if he does stay in the squad then his best opportunity of playing seems to be on the right wing.
It is hard to predict the future, but it is clear that Vickers has serious potential.
He is one to look out for over the next weeks and months.
You do not get targeted by Real Madrid if you are not a special talent.