Brighton's 10 biggest sales of all time

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 21 Dec 2023 15:26 GMT
• 6 min read

Brighton have been recently crowned as the transfer kings when it comes to extracting the most value for their players.

The south coast club typically find gems in the lower leagues across the world, before seeing them grow to Premier League stars.

Typically the club sell on for a premium, but with their first European spot secured in 2022-23 season, it means that their philosophy of being a selling club may end soon.

However, given the talent at their disposal and the money brought in through Europa League, Tony Bloom continues to demand huge fees for their stars - as seen by Chelsea and Liverpool's pursuit of Moises Caicedo.

Below, FootballTransfers takes a look at the Seagulls' 10 biggest sales to date.

10. Anthony Knockaert - €11.7m (to Fulham, 2020)

Anthony Knockaert was one of the Championship's most dangerous players during his stint at Brighton and even won the division's 'Player of the Year' award in 2016-17 as Chris Hughton's men were promoted to the Premier League. He netted 15 goals and provided nine assists that year.

However, the Frenchman struggled to make the step up to top-flight football and he was loaned to Fulham in 2019.

That move then became permanent the following summer for €11.7 million.

9. Neal Maupay - €11.8m (to Everton, 2022)

Neal Maupay came up clutch with several big goals for Brighton - including the famous winner against Arsenal during lockdown and his late equaliser against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in 2021.

However, he frequently underperformed his expected goals tally and was sold to Everton in 2022 following the Seagulls' purchase of Denis Undav.

However, Maupay scored just a single goal in 27 games during his debut Everton campaign as the club battled with relegation. The Frenchman was loaned back to former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season.

8. Dan Burn - €15m (to Newcastle, 2022)

Dan Burn was a solid contributor at Brighton, with the versatile defender playing occasionally at centre-back, but mostly at left-back thanks to the presence of Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster.

However, when his boyhood club Newcastle came knocking in January 2022, he couldn't turn the move down.

The Geordie quickly announced himself as a key member of Eddie Howe's side and Burn played a key role - at left-back once again - in their top four finish during the 2022-23 Premier League season.

7. Robert Sanchez - €23m (to Chelsea, 2023)

Robert Sanchez was an unknown name when he displaced Mat Ryan as Brighton's number one under Graham Potter, following loan spells at Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale, but he soon became a well-known Premier League goalkeeper with his performances on the south coast.

He gained international recognition from Spain - making his senior debut in 2021 - and was included in their 2022 World Cup squad, although he did not feature.

However, Sanchez was dropped by Roberto De Zerbi towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign, with Jason Steele brought in due to his superior ball-playing ability.

The summer addition of talented young shot-stopper Bart Verbruggen pushed Sanchez down to third place in the pecking order and he left the club for €23m in August 2023 to join Chelsea.

6. Leandro Trossard - €24m (to Arsenal, 2023)

Leandro Trossard was Brighton's best attacking asset from the moment he arrived through the door in 2019 and he ended the 2021-22 season as the club's top scorer in the Premier League with eight goals.

He started the 2022-23 campaign in even better form, netting a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw away to Liverpool in De Zerbi's first game, and ending the first half of the season with seven goals and three assists.

That form prompted Arsenal to spend €24m on him in January 2023 after missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk.

5. Yves Bissouma - €29.2m (to Tottenham, 2022)

Yves Bissouma wasn't initially trusted by Chris Hughton when he arrived from Lille, with the experienced pairing of Davy Propper and Dale Stephens preferred, but he soon established himself as one of the best midfielders in England under Graham Potter.

The Mali international attracted interest from several big teams on the continent, but it was Tottenham who landed him in 2022, spending nearly €30m to acquire his services.

4. Alexis Mac Allister - €42m (to Liverpool, 2023)

Alexis Mac Allister earned plenty of plaudits at Argentinos Juniors and Brighton's brilliant use of the South American market saw them steal a march on the competition and sign the midfielder for just €8m in January 2019.

It wasn't for another 12 months that he made his Brighton debut, however, after two loan spells in his homeland, and Mac Allister found it difficult to find a home under Potter.

However, that changed in the 2021-22 season when he became a key contributor at Brighton.

Mac Allister soon evolved into a vital player for Argentina and he played a pivotal role in their 2022 World Cup triumph. He joined Liverpool after a brilliant final year at Brighton.

3. Ben White - €58.5m (to Arsenal, 2021)

Ben White came through the Brighton academy, but he made his name on loan at Leeds United. In fact, his form at Elland Road earned reports of a potential England call-up, despite the fact he was playing in the Championship.

After just one year back at Brighton, in which he played at centre-back, right-back and centre midfield in almost equal measure, White joined Arsenal for nearly €60m in 2021.

He initially played at the heart of defence, and endured a tricky time during his first campaign. However, Mikel Arteta converted him into a full-time right-back in 2022 and White starred with the protection of William Saliba next to him.

2. Marc Cucurella - €65.3m (to Chelsea, 2022)

Just like White, Marc Cucurella only played one full season of football at Brighton before Chelsea and Manchester City were linked with a move after his 'Player of the Year' campaign on the south coast.

Pep Guardiola's side soon backed out after learning Brighton's asking price, but Chelsea persisted and eventually paid €65.3m to sign the Spaniard - over double the amount Man City were willing to fork out.

Cucurella suffered a torrid first season in west London as he failed to put in the displays that he had regularly produced at Brighton.

1. Moises Caicedo – €133m (to Chelsea, 2023)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a Brighton player moving to Chelsea is the biggest sale in the club's history, with Moises Caicedo commanding a huge fee when he moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023.

Chelsea had identified the Ecuadorian as their top target but, despite having agreed personal terms with Caicedo for months, the deal dragged on as Brighton kept demanding a ludicrous fee.

However, Caicedo finally got his move in August 2023, signing an eight-year deal, with the option of a ninth.

The 10 biggest Brighton sales of all time