Brighton in Europe — but the lightest European load
Brighton finished 8th in 2025/26 with 53 points and qualified for the UEFA Conference League play-off round — the lightest European load of any PL club. The two-legged play-off ties fall on 20 August and 27 August 2026, between GW1 and GW3. Brighton are the ONLY Premier League club with competitive European fixtures before GW3. Fabian Hürzeler continues into his second full season. For Fantasy Premier League managers, the Conference League is the structural headline: a low-impact European involvement that doesn't materially affect Brighton's GW1-5 rotation pattern.
Joao Pedro is gone and Mitoma is injured — Brighton is a GW1 pass
Joao Pedro has been sold to Chelsea, where he is listed at £7.5m — for Brighton that removes the nailed penalty taker and lead striker in one move. The attack was set to re-form around Kaoru Mitoma (£5.9m), but he is out with a hamstring injury and no return date, and the new penalty duty stayed unconfirmed through pre-season. Until Mitoma is fit and the first team sheets settle, Brighton attackers are watch-list only.
Danny Welbeck followed Joao Pedro to Chelsea, so the backup-striker idea this section used to end on has gone too. Brighton's most-owned asset is now Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m) at 19.6% — a goalkeeper — and the only outfield route the market rates is Pascal Groß (£5.5m, 13.1%) on penalties and corners. That is the honest shape of a Brighton attack missing Pedro, Mitoma and Minteh.
Mitoma injured, Mukiele, and the budget defenders
Kaoru Mitoma (£5.9m) is Brighton's standout attacking-mid on last season's form — the left-wing creative engine, takes some corners — but a hamstring injury with no return date keeps him off the GW1 teamsheet. In defence the summer turnover was heavy (Mukiele sold to Sunderland, Estupiñán gone): Ferdi Kadıoğlu (£4.5m — 118 points and 10 clean sheets last season) is the budget pick, with Jan Paul van Hecke's partner Svoboda the mid-price option once minutes settle. Mats Wieffer (£5.0m) was the other name here and is no longer pickable — a knee injury with no return date.
Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m) is Brighton's standard goalkeeper — viable as the budget-GK enabler if you prefer him to Roefs (Sunderland) or Flekken (Brentford).
Brighton's 26/27 ownership angle
Brighton are 7/1 to finish in the European places (Europa Conference League again or above) — bookmakers expect mid-table for 26/27. Hürzeler's continuity gives the squad a clear identity advantage. Recommended exposure: Kadıoğlu on his own. The "double Brighton" template needs Mitoma, and his hamstring injury has no return date. The Conference League play-off doesn't materially affect FPL minutes — Hürzeler rotates a settled XI.
Captain Brighton assets only in GW1 against a promoted side at home; otherwise they are differential bracket only.