Sussex

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Former Brighton midfielder Gary Dicker says the club are "well equipped" to "attack" European football next season.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor about the Seagulls qualifying for a second season in Europe, Dicker said: "It's been a good season in general. You are going to get patches in the season in general where you are going to struggle. It's a hard, hard league. They've done well getting into Europe, they were so unlucky in the last game of the season. If they didn't play Manchester United, in form, new manager, everything kind of aligned for them a bit. The first goal was massive that day."

Dicker, who is now assistant coach for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC, added: "It's been great to see from afar. I was working at the club during the Europa League stage and saw the buzz it brings about playing different opponents. It's the main thing for the fans to get an away trip. When you've travelled to Gillingham to watch Brighton and then they are in the Europa Conference and you see the English teams who have done well in it over the years, there's no reason why they can't go and attack it and you never know, they could be in a final this time next year.

"I think the players that they have now are exposed to playing in big games all the time for club or country. They will have learnt off the pitch but on the pitch they are well equipped for it."

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AIK Stockholm say they are in talks to sell 18-year-old Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna, who has been linked with Brighton, Chelsea and Newcastle United. (Northern Echo), external

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Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

With all 48 World Cup squads now confirmed, we look at how they shape up and compare with each other leading into the tournament.

Which clubs have the most players?

Looking just at the 20 clubs that made up the 2025-26 Premier League, only this season's top three have more players at the World Cup than Conference League winners Crystal Palace (12).

Including players out on loan over the season, Sunderland remarkably have as many representatives on the global stage as Chelsea and Liverpool (11), showing just how globe-trotting their recruitment was following promotion last summer.

The majority of Brentford, Everton and Leeds' squads can put their feet up and recharge their batteries for next season, with those clubs sending just four players each.

• Get more key stats on participation

The 2026-27 Premier League season will be here before we know it, with the first matches taking place on Saturday, 22 August.

We have a simple question for you - what one thing needs to change at your club before the new campaign and why?

It can be a player, manager, ticketing issue, owner, or wider change.

Let us know in detail here

Johnny Cantor
BBC Radio Sussex Brighton reporter

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It was set to be a big few months for Brighton's sporting director Jason Ayto.

The 41-year-old was set to oversee his first summer transfer window. The club rarely do major business in January, resolute in their belief there is more value in the market after June.

Therefore, a fair few eyebrows were raised as his departure was announced on Wednesday, just nine months after his arrival. It is understood the separation was amicable, with technical director Mike Cave providing vital continuity as he takes on the role.

Brighton place a huge emphasis on data and their success is well-documented, but Ayto's previous focus, including over a decade at Arsenal, relied more on other aspects.

The timing of the decision makes sense for both Ayto and Brighton. He can pursue other options and the Albion can focus on the start of the transfer window (15 June).

The role was new to a club that has finished in the top half of the Premier League table in four of the past five seasons. The demands on running Brighton in the top flight continue to grow.

The Seagulls also have an ambitious, young head coach in Fabian Hurzeler, who stated on his arrival that he wanted to "challenge the establishment". He embarks on a second campaign in Europe with the club still finding its way among the elite.

Brighton are never reactive, but are always decisive.

One thing is for sure, owner Tony Bloom and chief executive Paul Barber (who deals with outgoing transfer business) will aim to support Cave and Hurzeler across a key period and leading into a year where the club is aiming to celebrate its 125th anniversary with silverware.

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We asked for your views after Brighton announced that sporting director Jason Ayto has left the club with immediate effect and whether it is a concern heading into the summer.

Here are some of your comments:

Olly: Obviously, for whatever reason, it has not worked out and better to make any changes at the beginning of the close season rather than at the start of a new campaign.

Luke: This is a worrying development. He was meant to be building our brilliant squad for next season in this window. Guess he is off somewhere else! Really frustrating.

Tim: Less than a year. Perhaps he wasn't bringing the right food to the table.

Barry: Begs the question why Brighton cannot retain players, nor staff. Is the problem internal? Players, staff and owners come and go, but supporters are lifelong.

Annette: It is a worry. Does Paul Barber think he can get things done in his way, rather than listen to reason? If things were right, we would still have Roberto de Zerbi.

Chris: Bad timing on the eve of a crucial summer transfer window. Our recruitment hasn't been great in the past four transfer windows and it's vital it improves this summer. Not sure how this departure helps.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Brighton have confirmed sporting director Jason Ayto has left the club with immediate effect.

Ayto joined the Seagulls in September 2025 as their first sporting director, having worked at Arsenal for more than a decade in a variety of technical roles.

On his exit, in a statement chairman Tony Bloom said: "I'd like to thank Jason for everything he has done for us, and to wish him well for the future."

Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber added: "Jason has been a valued team colleague on our strategic leadership group.

"I'd like to thank him for his contribution since he joined the club and wish him all the best going forward."

Technical director Mike Cave will now oversee all sporting areas of the club, working with the existing senior team and reporting to Barber.

It is rare for Brighton to get a major recruitment decision wrong but it would appear owner Tony Bloom has decided it was better for Jason Ayto to leave immediately, after just nine months in the role of sporting director, rather than limp into the summer transfer window knowing the appointment just has not worked out as intended.

The Seagulls believe that as most of the work around analysis, planning and scouting - the areas club sources say were the main aspects of Ayto's role - have been done, the 41-year-old should be released to increase his chances of getting alternative employment.

The precise reasons for the decision are not being made clear, beyond there being a number of them.

What is being stressed is the "complete confidence" in the rejigged structure to deliver the squad head coach Fabian Hurzeler needs for a campaign which, for only the second time in the club's history, will include European competition, with Brighton expected to challenge strongly to win the Uefa Conference League.

The work remaining in Ayto's main areas will be done by the south coast club's current recruitment team.

Technical director Mike Cave will lead on incoming transfers, with chief executive Paul Barber looking after significant sales, to uphold Brighton's reputation as tough negotiators, if clubs come in for the likes of Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba.

Both men have vast experience in recruitment and know Brighton's 'model' intimately.

While Cave, who joined the club in November 2022, reports directly to Barber, will prioritise this summer's window, he will also be across Brighton's longer term plans.

How do you feel about the unexpected exit? Is it a concern heading into the summer? And what do you make of another reshuffle in your club's hierarchy?

Let us know here

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Former Brighton forward Anthony Knockaert says leaving the club may be "the biggest regret" he has in his career.

Knockaert left for Fulham in 2020 after a successful spell with the Seagulls.

Speaking to Albion Unlimited he said: "The best part of my career, I played four years here and four years I was really successful. Maybe the biggest regret I have in my career is I left this club."

Watch Knockaert discuss his view, external

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