Players You Forgot Signed For Brighton
Especially when factoring in the dramatic rise the club has seen over the last decade, Brighton has developed quite a reputation for their smart recruitment, blending experienced professionals with emerging talents from around the world. However, not every signing that the Seagulls have made has made the headlines; some for the right reasons.In fact, some players who have passed through Goldstone, Withdean, and the Amex have now been relatively forgotten, with many fans having no recollection of them ever wearing the blue and white stripes. From Premier League veterans to future stars who barely featured on the pitch, we have compiled some players you may have forgotten ever signed for Brighton.
Jesse Lingard
Before becoming a first-team stalwart at Manchester and a social media icon, Jesse Lingard briefly wore Brighton colours. Back in 2014, when the attacking midfielder was just 21 years of age, he was sent out on loan to get some vital minutes under his belt. At the time, Brighton were in the Championship, with manager Oscar Garcia choosing to snap him in February after the January transfer window closed, opting to slot him into the first team.In the remainder of the season, Lingard made a total of 15 appearances, scoring on 4 separate occasions including a strike in a 4-1 win to Leicester, a first for him in his brief stint at the seagulls, with the goal being made the more memorable considering Lingard’s previous loan to the foxes. Although he left after the conclusion of the 2013/14 season, his stint at Brighton was an important step in his development, with him going on to slowly break into the first team at Manchester United, becoming a regular under Mourinho.
Darren Bent
A prolific Premier League striker with over 100 top-flight goals to his name, Darren Bent is another player who many forget ever signed for Brighton. Joining on loan from Aston Villa in 2014, he was out of favour at Villa Park at this point of the season, with the Seagulls needing some extra firepower. This was as many sports betting sites, such as BoyleSports, which offer slot games and sports betting odds, had them tipped for promotion from the Championship. Despite no longer being the first choice at Villa, he was still considered a top-class finisher, with this aspect of his game remaining relatively consistent throughout his years in the Premier League.Upon joining Brighton, however, Bent made just five appearances, though he still managed to score two goals, one of which was against his former employers, Fulham, in a narrow 2-1 defeat. However, after his mere 5 games, Bent would return to Aston Villa before being loaned out to Derby County the following year. He would subsequently go on to be released by his parent club after his contract expired, but would go on to sign with the Rams on a permanent contract for another season. After a final year at Burton in 2019, Bent chose to hang up his boots after becoming a solid striker for many years. Due to him having reached the heights in the early stages of his career and the minuscule number of games he played at the Amex, Brighton is often forgotten when talking about the career of Bent, even by some fans.
Leon Best
From one seasoned English striker to another, Leon Best is most well-known for his time at Newcastle and Blackburn. However, back in the 2014/15 season, Brighton chose to take him on loan from Blackburn, with it originally looking like a smart move to add depth to the Seagulls’ front line. However, considering many have no recollection of Best lacing up his boots at the Amex, this move did not entirely go to plan. Playing just 13 times, he struggled to find form at all, not even scoring on a single occasion. After returning to Blackburn following the lacklustre loan stint, Best’s career faded out of the consciousness of many fans, with moves to Derby, Ipswich, Rotherham and Charlton acting as the clubs he would close his career out at.Martin Keown
One name that is forever associated with Arsenal's famous defence is Martin Keown, who was a staple of the Gunners’ backline in the 1990s and 2000s. However, what many do not remember is that Keown spent a brief spell at Brighton right at the beginning of his professional career. After coming through the ranks at Arsenal, Keown was loaned out to Brighton during the 1984/85 season, with the centre back being just 18 years of age at the time.During his time at the Seagulls, he made 23 appearances, which were some of his first professional games in senior football. As we all know, Keown went on to enjoy an incredible career, becoming a vital part of Arsene Wenger’s double-winning side. His no-nonsense approach to both leadership and defending as a whole made him a fan favourite, with this bright time at Brighton originally being what laid the foundations for his success.
Percy Tau
Before joining Brighton in 2018, Percy Tau was scouted as one of South Africa’s most exciting and upcoming talents, signing from Mamelodi Sundowns in his home country. This was off the back of a season in which he won the South African Footballer of the Year award, with many expecting him to become a breakout star in Europe following this. However, after being snapped up by the Seagulls, Tau actually encountered a number of work permit issues, something which meant he had to spend several seasons out on loan. One of these loan moves was to Union SG in Belgium, where he impressed at the club, and fans from his home country grew more excited about his prospects.By the time Percy Tau was finally cleared to play in England, though, it was 2021, with manager Graham Potter being at the helm. Under his management, the club was beginning to shape a new identity, with the South African forward struggling to make an impact in the team. Due to the stacked attacking options Brighton had at the time, Tau only managed to make 3 appearances, most of these being off the bench. As a result of this, he was sold to Al Ahly in 2021, linking up with a Mamelodi Sundowns coach and, in turn, becoming a distant memory to Brighton and Premier League fans even after all of the excitement around him earlier in his career.