Brighton finished 8th in 25/26 and qualified for the Conference League play-off — the only PL club with a competitive European tie between GW1 and GW3. Fabian Hürzeler continues. Joao Pedro leads the attack if he stays.
By Onside··2 min read
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Brighton FPL Picks 2026/27
Brighton finished 8th in 25/26 and qualified for the Conference League play-off — the only PL club with a competitive European tie between GW1 and GW3. Fabian Hürzeler continues. Joao Pedro leads the attack if he stays.
The 25/26 standout sub-£5m defender. DefCon earner.
BV
VALUEGK
Bart Verbruggen
Budget-GK alternative
PROJ PRICE
£4.5m
GW1-5 PPG
4.0
ONSIDE MODEL VERDICT
Third budget-GK option behind Roefs/Flekken if fixture run favours.
Projections are model output, not a guarantee. Prices firm on FPL's 26/27 reveal; the squad-projection layer re-runs every Friday from price-reveal day.
Brighton in Europe — but the lightest European load
Brighton finished 8th in 2025/26 with 53 points and qualified for the UEFA Conference League play-off round — the lightest European load of any PL club. The two-legged play-off ties fall on 20 August and 27 August 2026, between GW1 and GW3. Brighton are the ONLY Premier League club with competitive European fixtures before GW3. Fabian Hürzeler continues into his second full season. For Fantasy Premier League managers, the Conference League is the structural headline: a low-impact European involvement that doesn't materially affect Brighton's GW1-5 rotation pattern.
Joao Pedro — the lead attacker (if he stays)
Joao Pedro (projected £7.5-8.0m if he stays) is Brighton's nailed penalty taker and lead striker. He led Brighton's 25/26 attack with consistent 0.55+ xGI per 90 numbers. The transfer question: Tottenham and Newcastle have both been linked through the summer. If he stays, he is a defensible mid-bracket forward pick. If he moves, he becomes the new club's FPL premium-mid bracket asset.
Danny Welbeck (£6.0m) is the backup-striker FPL pick if Pedro departs. Welbeck has consistently delivered 8-12 PL goals at his price point — a credible 4th-forward pick at any tier.
Mitoma, Mukiele, and the budget defenders
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) is Brighton's standout attacking-mid pick — Brighton's left-wing creative engine, takes some corners. Pervis Estupiñán (£5.5m when fit) is the attacking-FB pick. The 25/26 standout defender was Nordi Mukiele (£4.5m) — 3 G + 5 A + 9 clean sheets at sub-£5m. He is the cleanest budget-defender pick for 26/27 if he stays at his current price tier.
Bart Verbruggen (£4.5m) is Brighton's standard goalkeeper — viable as the budget-GK enabler if you prefer him to Roefs (Sunderland) or Flekken (Brentford).
Brighton's 26/27 ownership angle
Brighton are 7/1 to finish in the European places (Europa Conference League again or above) — bookmakers expect mid-table for 26/27. Hürzeler's continuity gives the squad a clear identity advantage. Recommended exposure: Joao Pedro (if he stays) + Mitoma + Mukiele is the cleanest "triple Brighton" template. The Conference League play-off doesn't materially affect FPL minutes — Hürzeler rotates a settled XI.
Captain Brighton assets only in GW1 against a promoted side at home; otherwise they are differential bracket only.
FPL 2026/27 BRIEFING
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Frequently Asked Questions
Tottenham and Newcastle have been linked as of 15 June 2026, but no move is confirmed. If he stays, he is a credible mid-bracket FPL forward at £7.5-8.0m. If he moves, he becomes the new club's premium-mid bracket asset.