Brighton wait on Baleba injury and European opponents
Brighton face Roma in a 3pm pre-season friendly at the Amex, with Luka Vuskovic and Zadok Yohanna selection calls and big-money new signings set for debuts.
Brighton Women are building for the long term after a strong 2025-26, with seven signings, key players retained and plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s stadium.
Former Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke said he and Roberto De Zerbi ‘argued’ at first over his style, before their relationship helped lift his game.
Paul Barber said Brighton could not match Chelsea’s two-year deal for Danny Welbeck, calling his exit ‘emotional’ but a pragmatic decision after six seasons.
Brighton face a midfield blow as Carlos Baleba suffers ankle ligament damage in pre-season and is a doubt for the start of 2026-27, though the club hope it is not a long-term setback.
Released by Brighton, Solly March has been linked with Crystal Palace, though the interest appears preliminary. He wants to stay in the Premier League after training at Lancing.
Brighton are waiting to learn whether they will face Cluj or Tromso in their 2026-27 Conference League qualifier.
