Brighton and Hove Albion have sold some incredible players in recent years.
Indeed, the Seagulls are the masters of flipping talented players for profit, and while that’s good for the club’s accounts, it’s not brilliant for the playing squad as they continue to lose star players.
Paul Barber was disappointed to lose Joao Pedro this summer, while Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella have been other high-profile departures as of late.
Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, Tony Bloom has been discussing some of the sales he’s made in recent years, and he says there’s one he particularly regrets.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates for Liverpool
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Tony Bloom wishes he didn’t sell Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool
Bloom was asked if there’s any particular player he wishes was still at Brighton.
The chairman took some time to think before ultimately saying that Alexis Mac Allister is the one player he wishes was still at the club.
Mac Allister left Brighton for £35m to join Liverpool in 2023, and Bloom regrets that transfer.
“Is there a player over the past five years that Tony wishes was still at the football club?” Bloom was asked.
“Well, in the last five years we’ve sold some top players who are playing at really big clubs and doing fantastically well,” Bloom said.
“It’s tough to name one of those players, but I guess I’d pick Alexis, who I wish was still at the club. I could say the same about a few others, but we understand how the system works. We bring players in, they improve, and we sell them for big money,”
“He’s a brilliant player, a brilliant person and I’m delighted for him.”
Alexis Mac Allister was a rare Brighton mistake
Brighton have done a brilliant job at cashing in on their players in recent years.
Indeed, when you look at some of the fees Brighton have received for their players, it’s clear they’ve extorted some incredible value out of their assets.
Rank Brighton’s biggest sales Transfer Fee To Club Year of Transfer
1 Moises Caicedo £115 million Chelsea 2023
2 Marc Cucurella £62 million Chelsea 2022
3 Joao Pedro £60 million Chelsea 2025
4 Ben White £50 million Arsenal 2021
5 Alexis Mac Allister £35 million Liverpool 2023
However, they did make a mistake with Mac Allister.
The Argentine had a release clause in place at Brighton that allowed him to leave for just £35m, and Liverpool were quick to act on that.
That proved to be an absolute bargain, and, for once, this has been a bit of a mistake on Brighton’s part.