The 2021–22 season was the 120th season in the existence of Brighton & Hove Albion and the club's fifth consecutive season in the top flight of English football. In addition to the domestic league, Brighton & Hove Albion participated in this season's edition of the FA Cup and in the EFL Cup, where they exited both competitions in the fourth round. Brighton finished the season in ninth, their highest ever finish in the top flight, surpassing the 13th-place finish in the 1981–82 season.
Summary
Brighton played three pre-season friendlies, the first coming against Rangers at Ibrox on 24 July where it finished in a goalless draw, with former Albion player Connor Goldson being the main attraction of the fixture. Their second friendly fixture came a week later, away at Luton Town with former Seagulls player and coach Nathan Jones managing The Hatters. Brighton prevailed, winning 3–1 with goals from Aaron Connolly, new summer signing Enock Mwepu and Percy Tau finding the net for the first time in an Albion shirt. Brighton's last pre-season friendly came on 7 August and the only friendly being played at home. With the return of most first team players including the likes of captain Lewis Dunk and Leandro Trossard, Albion fell to a 2–0 defeat to La Liga side Getafe.
Albion won their opening match of the season coming from behind to win 2–1 against Burnley at Turf Moor with goals from Neal Maupay and Alexis Mac Allister. Summer signing Enock Mwepu made his Brighton and Premier League debut with Shane Duffy making his first Albion appearance since the 2019–20 season. Brighton beat Watford 2–0 on 21 August, in the second match of the season with this being their best start in a top-flight campaign. It was also Albion's first match in front of a full stadium since March 2020.
Potter fielded a team of an average age of 20.5 years in the second round EFL Cup tie over Cardiff City with Jakub Moder and Andi Zeqiri grabbing their first Brighton goals in the 2–0 away win.
Brighton's first loss came on 28 August, a 2–0 home loss against Everton with Taylor Richards making his Albion league and Premier League debut. In the first derby game against bitter rivals Crystal Palace of the season away at Selhurst Park on 27 September, Brighton were trailing after Leandro Trossard conceded a penalty in which Wilfried Zaha scored and took Crystal Palace 1–0 up at the break. However, Joël Veltman hit a long ball into Neal Maupay from a poor Vicente Guaita goal kick and Maupay lobbed the keeper and scored a 90+5th-minute equaliser taking a point back to Sussex.
Brighton's second loss of the Premier League season came on 23 October, in their ninth game, losing 4–1 at home with Manchester City winning comfortably, scoring their first three goals in the space of 18 minutes. Four days later, Brighton were knocked of the EFL Cup, losing away to Leicester City on penalties after a 2–2 draw in which Mwepu scored his first goal for the club. Jürgen Locadia also made his first start – and only his second appearance – for the club in over two years. Three days later, away at Liverpool Brighton came from 2–0 down to draw 2–2, with Mwepu again on the scoresheet adding his first league goal for the club.
Potter made his 100th appearance as Brighton manager on 20 November, in the 2–0 away defeat against Aston Villa.
On 6 December, Brighton were drawn away to West Bromwich Albion in the third round FA Cup draw, which will be played on 8 January 2022. Albion's Premier League fixture with Tottenham Hotspur set to be played on 12 December was postponed three days prior to the match with Spurs having high numbers of COVID-19 cases. Brighton returned to action on 15 December, a midweek 1–0 home loss against Wolves, with several absences due to Covid, injury and suspension before the fixture against Manchester United scheduled for 18 December was also postponed, this time two days prior to kick off with Covid cases in both squads.
After a 12-game winless run dating back to 19 September, Brighton were able to hit two against Brentford without reply on Boxing Day and move back into the top half of the table. The result also meant that the Seagulls won the double over The Bees after beating them in the earlier away fixture in September.
Brighton beat West Brom in the third round of the FA Cup on 8 January 2022, with Odel Offiah making his first start for the club in the eventual 2–1 after extra-time away victory. Keeper Kjell Scherpen made his Albion debut in this game.
In the reverse fixture against Palace on 15 January, Pascal Groß had a penalty saved from Eagles keeper Jack Butland to deny Brighton of going 1–0 up. Maupay had a goal disallowed for a high boot on Butland moments later in the eventual 1–1 draw. Brighton got the equaliser through a Joachim Andersen own goal in the 87th minute thanks to a low pacey pass in front of goal from Maupay.
Brighton were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round after losing 3–1 at Tottenham on 5 February after a Harry Kane double and a Solly March own goal, with Yves Bissouma giving Albion hope before Kane scored his second. Brighton's record-breaking unbeaten league run of seven matches was ended on 15 February, in Potter's 100th league game in charge, losing 2–0 away to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Dunk was sent off shortly after United's opener. He was originally shown a yellow card by referee Peter Bankes, however, Bankes went to VAR and deemed Dunk to have denied Anthony Elanga a run on goal
After six straight defeats Brighton ended the run with a somewhat disappointing draw with Norwich City on 2 April, finishing 0–0 at home with a Neal Maupay penalty being stuck over the bar. A week later Brighton ended their run of seven games without a win in style, with a 2–1 away win over Arsenal. Mwepu scored and assisted on his first start since a long period out injured, with Moisés Caicedo making his Premier League debut where he assisted Mwepu's goal. Seven days later Albion were up in North London again, this time enjoying their time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Trossard scoring a 90th minute – scoring two goals in as many games – as Brighton made it six games unbeaten in the capital. Albion beat Wolves 3–0 at Molineux Stadium on 30 April, taking their points tally to 44 points breaking their record of 41 points in a Premier League season. The win also meant they had won 10 Premier League matches throughout the campaign, beating their previous record of nine.
On 7 May, a brilliant Brighton demolished a dreadful Manchester United 4–0 at the AMEX, with Brighton's biggest ever top flight result being their first home victory of 2022, which was also in front of a record crowd, 31,637. Moisés Caicedo and Marc Cucurella scored their first Albion goals with Pascal Groß scoring his first goal of the campaign and Trossard scoring one and assisting two others as Brighton beat United for the first time in eight games, ending their chances for 2022–23 UEFA Champions League qualification. At Albions end of season awards, Marc Cucurealla won both Players' Player and Player of the Season in his debut season. Jeremy Sarmiento picked up Brighton's Young Player of the Season with Enock Mwepu winning The Seagulls Goal of the Season with his 20-yard strike against Liverpool in October. Brighton achieved their highest ever top flight finish, finishing in ninth place after beating West Ham 3–1 in the last game of the season, with Joël Veltman scoring his second ever goal for The Seagulls. The victory took their points tally to 51 points, 10 points higher than their previous record, and scoring 42 goals, their most in a Premier League season. This was also the first time since being in the Premier League where Brighton finished ahead of rivals Crystal Palace who finished in 12th.
Players
Transfers Transfers in Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Team Ref. 2 July 2021 CM Gary Dicker Kilmarnock Free transfer U23s 2 July 2021 RW Jeremy Sarmiento Benfica Undisclosed U23s 6 July 2021 CM Enock Mwepu Red Bull Salzburg Undisclosed First team 7 July 2021 MF Jake Gee Fulham Free transfer U18s 7 July 2021 CB Ruairi McConville Linfield Undisclosed U18s 7 July 2021 MF Bailey Smith Worthing Undisclosed U18s 7 July 2021 RB Joe Winstanley Wigan Athletic Undisclosed U18s 16 July 2021 GK Kjell Scherpen Ajax Undisclosed First team 10 August 2021 LW Kaoru Mitoma Kawasaki Frontale Undisclosed First team 14 August 2021 CM Jack Hinchy Stockport County Undisclosed U23s 31 August 2021 LB Marc Cucurella Getafe Undisclosed First team 31 August 2021 RW Abdallah Sima Slavia Prague Undisclosed U23s 5 January 2022 MF Kacper Kozłowski Pogoń Szczecin Undisclosed First team 31 January 2022 CF Deniz Undav Royale Union Saint-Gilloise Undisclosed First team
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Team Ref. 31 January 2022 LW Benicio Baker-Boaitey FC Porto End of season U23s
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until Team Ref. 1 July 2021 LB Alex Cochrane Heart of Midlothian End of season U23s 1 July 2021 CM Teddy Jenks Aberdeen End of season U23s 7 July 2021 RW Ryan Longman Hull City 31 January 2022 U23s 13 July 2021 CM Jensen Weir Cambridge United End of season U23s 13 July 2021 CB Matt Clarke West Bromwich Albion End of season First team 14 July 2021 GK Carl Rushworth Walsall End of season U23s 10 August 2021 LW Kaoru Mitoma Royale Union Saint-Gilloise End of season First team 10 August 2021 CB Leo Skiri Østigård Stoke City 5 January 2022 U23s 23 August 2021 CF Florin Andone Cádiz End of season First team 27 August 2021 CM Jayson Molumby West Bromwich Albion End of season First team 28 August 2021 LB Michał Karbownik Olympiacos End of season First team 29 August 2021 CB Jan Paul van Hecke Blackburn Rovers End of season U23s 30 August 2021 GK Christian Walton Ipswich Town 19 January 2022 First team 30 August 2021 CF Andi Zeqiri Augsburg End of season First team 31 August 2021 CM Moisés Caicedo Beerschot 12 January 2022 First team 31 August 2021 CB Lars Dendoncker St Johnstone 3 January 2022 U23s 31 August 2021 LW Reda Khadra Blackburn Rovers End of season U23s 31 August 2021 RW Abdallah Sima Stoke City End of season U23s 2 January 2022 CF Aaron Connolly Middlesbrough End of season First team 5 January 2022 MF Kacper Kozłowski Royale Union Saint-Gilloise End of season First team 5 January 2022 CB Leo Skiri Østigård Genoa End of season U23s 7 January 2022 CM Taylor Richards Birmingham City End of season U23s 24 January 2022 GK Fynn Talley Gosport Borough U23s 27 January 2022 GK Adam Desbois Leatherhead End of season U23s 31 January 2022 CF Lorent Tolaj Cambridge United End of season U23s 31 January 2022 CF Deniz Undav Royale Union Saint-Gilloise End of season First team 31 January 2022 GK Kjell Scherpen Oostende End of season First team 14 February 2022 LB Sam Packham Bohemians End of season U23s
Transfers out