Brighton’s £25m Summer Signing Absent as Fabian Hurzeler Makes Bold Decision for Everton Match

Hurzeler, 31, becomes the youngest permanent manager in Brighton’s history, having joined from Bundesliga side St Pauli this summer.

The German boss faced tough decisions for his first starting XI due to injuries and transfer speculation.

Brighton trio Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, and Evan Ferguson returned to training this week but were not ready for the season opener against Sean Dyche’s team.

Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and defender Igor Julio were also absent with unspecified injuries.

New £25m signing Brajan Gruda, who joined from Mainz on a four-year deal, was not included in the matchday squad.

Hurzeler emphasized the need to integrate Gruda gradually: “We need to give Brajan time. He comes from Germany, he’s very young, and it’s a different culture here. The Premier League is the best league in the world.

So we need to try to integrate him as fast as possible, we give him all the support and help he needs. Then we try to improve him and make him ready for the Premier League.”

However, Mats Wieffer, a £25m signing from Feyenoord, made his debut.

Wieffer is expected to play in central midfield alongside the experienced James Milner, who starts his 23rd consecutive season in the Premier League, breaking Ryan Giggs’ record.

Jack Hinshelwood also makes his first start since a serious foot injury last season and is expected to play at left back. Billy Gilmour, linked with a move to Napoli, is on the bench.

Brighton’s starting XI: Steele; Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood, Wieffer, Milner, Minteh, Joao Pedro, Mitoma, Welbeck. Subs: Rushworth, Webster, Gilmour, Sarmiento, Barco, Baleba, Adingra, Ayari, O’Mahony.

Everton’s starting XI: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Gueye, Doucoure, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Harrison, Calvert-Lewin.