All the latest transfer and contract news for Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton's Brajan Gruda and Matt O'Riley are expected to leave the club this summer.
Brighton winger Brajan Gruda could be on the move this summerplaceholder image
Brighton winger Brajan Gruda could be on the move this summer | Getty Images
Gruda, 23, spent the second half of last season on loan in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig and is expected to return there this season.
Leipzig have reached an agreement with Brighton to take Gruda on loan once more, with a few to a permanent move if certain conditions are met.
The German under-21 international joined Brighton for £25m in 2024 from Mainz and has made 45 appearances for Brighton with four goals and eight assists.
Gruda showed brief glimpses of potential in the No 10 role or on the right flank but never fully convinced in the Premier League.
A move back to Leipzig - where he impressed with three goals and three assists from eight starts - seems to make sense for all parties.
Leipzig finished fourth in the German top flight last term and qualified for the Champions League this season.
Gruda and O'Riley, 25, were part of huge £200m spending spree for Brighton in 2024.
O’Riley didn’t make an impact
Matt O'Riley was loaned to Marseilleplaceholder image
Matt O'Riley was loaned to Marseille | AFP via Getty Images
O'Riley also failed to make his mark at Brighton and spent part of last season on loan at Marseille.
O'Riley did quite well in the south of France and there was initial talk that Marseille were keen to make the move permanent.
that however failed to materialise and the Denmark international return to Brighton last January.
O'Riley though hardly featured for Fabian Hurzeler's team and is widely tipped to move on this window.
The £25m signing from Celtic was pictured in pre-season testing for Brighton and could also feature in their pre-season training camp in France later this month.
O'Riley is contract with Brighton until June 2029 and has previously been linked with a move to Roma or Juventus.
Atalanta were also in the running before he moved to Brighton.
The Seagulls will hope to recoup most of the £25m they paid for him.
Why O'Riley and Gruda struggled
Firstly, competition is pretty fierce for a No 10 role or for a place on the right flank.
Jack Hinshelwood and Georginio are the preferred No 10 options, while Yankuba Minteh - a £30m signing from Newcastle - is the main man on the right flank.
Minteh has the pace and physicality that Hurzeler seems to favour and the German head coach never seemed fully convinced by O'Riley's and Gruda's contributions.
Both have also struggled with niggling injuries throughout their time at Brighton which prevented ither player from gaining momentum.
The exits of Gruda and O'Riley could also create a first team pathway for talented youngsters Harry Howell, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Nigerian summer arrival Zadok Yohanna.
It's shame Brighton never saw the best from Gruda or O'Riley but it also feels the right time for them to move on. The Seagulls should also get most of the £50m back they paid for the duo two years ago.
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