Writers’ projected finish: 6th (Note: this ranking reflects the average selection from the writing team and is not necessarily Sophie Downey’s personal forecast)
Previous season’s finish: 7th
Outlook
Reaching the FA Cup final for the first time marked a major milestone for Brighton. Although they were defeated by Manchester City at Wembley, the achievement should have strengthened Dario Vidosic and his squad’s confidence that the club is moving in the right direction.
The summer has been fairly settled on the south coast. Seven players have arrived, while only four have left. Lia Wälti and Gabby George add considerable experience and greater defensive strength, while Republic of Ireland forward Emily Murphy and Poland’s Nadia Krezyman are promising young attackers beginning to establish their reputations.
A lack of consistency undermined Brighton’s campaign last season. Their options were significantly reduced by the absence of a natural centre-forward after Arsenal loanee and England Euros standout Michelle Agyemang sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Kiko Seike led the team’s league scoring with eight goals and was Brighton’s only player ranked among the Women’s Super League’s leading 20 contributors for goals and assists. The issue has yet to be addressed and is likely to remain a priority before the transfer window closes.
Brighton ended the previous campaign with encouraging results that provided a strong foundation for the summer. They recorded an excellent league win against City and earned a draw with Arsenal. They will aim to go one better when they welcome Renée Slegers’s team to Crawley for their opening match on 6 September. On paper, it is the most demanding of Brighton’s first four fixtures.
Developments away from the pitch
Pinterest has signed a four-year agreement to become the women’s team’s first exclusive sponsor. The partnership centres on the idea of ‘matchday style’ and highlights how supporters express their connection to the club. Work is also progressing on plans for Europe’s first stadium designed specifically for women’s football. The proposed venue, situated beside the Amex Stadium, is expected to open in time for the 2030-31 season.
The head coach
Vidosic is beginning his third campaign in charge and is now the second-longest-serving manager in the WSL. His tenure has provided the club with valuable continuity and given the Croatian-born Australian the opportunity to establish his high-intensity pressing and possession-focused approach. He has also refined the team’s work without the ball to help them compete more effectively against the league’s strongest opponents. The 39-year-old has consistently spoken about his ambition to win trophies with Brighton, and last season’s FA Cup final offered an important lesson in what will be needed to achieve that goal.
Standout arrival
Signing Wälti ranks among the most impressive moves of the summer. The 33-year-old Switzerland captain is back in England following a season in Italy with Juventus. She returns with extensive experience, including a WSL championship and a Champions League winners’ medal earned during her seven years at Arsenal. Wälti combines outstanding technical quality with the tactical awareness required to control matches from central midfield. She sets standards through her performances and captained Switzerland to the Euro 2025 quarter-finals. Provided she remains fit, she could have a major influence on Brighton’s season.
Key statistics
Brighton struggled to turn chances into goals during the 2025-26 campaign. Their accuracy was not the problem, as no team placed a greater share of its attempts on target, but only three sides converted a smaller percentage of those efforts. More precise finishing into the corners, rather than directing shots close to the goalkeeper, could lead to a much stronger season.
Player poised to emerge
Sophie Peskett entered the record books in 2021 when, at 18, she became Ipswich’s first professional player. The winger spent nearly seven years with the club, appearing 127 times and helping the team secure promotion to WSL 2 on two occasions. Leaving at the age of 23 was likely a significant choice, but joining Brighton appears to be a logical step in her development. An agile and skilful player with a scoring instinct, Peskett should strengthen Brighton’s attacking options.
In their words …
“Brighton are not a side that need to approach matches cautiously. Over the past few seasons, they have shown on numerous occasions that they can trouble the leading teams, and they also reached last season’s FA Cup final. We may not enter every match as favourites, but that can be an enjoyable situation to embrace.” – Lia Wälti
Home venues
Brighton will again stage most of their home matches at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium, although four of their first six home games are scheduled for the Amex. A new Amex four-match ticket package has been introduced at £45 for adults. The club has also unveiled ‘Built For Her’, a women’s football membership offering several exclusive benefits as Brighton works to expand its supporter base before relocating to the planned stadium.
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