Whereas Brighton failed to win a single game in December 2025, they fared a bit better in January 2026 by getting two victories on the board and making life a little easier in terms of putting together a shortlist for WAB Player of the Month.
Only a little, mind. Because it was still six games featuring more disappointment than enjoyment. So much so that supporter dissent towards Fabian Hurzeler led an “anonymous source” to let The Athletic know that members of the board have become irritated by Albion fans who criticise the manager.
Decision-makers at the club wanting it publicly knowledge they are intolerant of opinions which do not toe the party line went down about as well as you can imagine.
Because no matter how much the club want to control the narrative, the uncomfortable truth is that Brighton have not been very good recently.
January 2026 did at least get underway with three decent results which are responsible for a number of the candidates for WAB Brighton Player of the Month.
Relegation threatened Burnley were beaten 2-0 at the Amex. The Albion then drew 1-1 away against Manchester City before heading to the other side of town to take on Manchester United in the FA Cup four days later.
Old Trafford was the scene of the best performance and result of January. Brajan Gruda was on fire, scoring himself before setting up Danny Welbeck for his usual goal at the Theatre of Dreams as Brighton eliminated United from the competition via a 2-1 victory.
FA Cup joy was, however, short-lived when the fourth round draw handed the Albion an away tie at Liverpool. Gruda meanwhile was rewarded for that match winning display by being packed off to RB Leipzig on loan by the end of the month.
Things went downhill following success against United. A poor performance when Bournemouth came to the Amex needed Charalampos Kostoulas to rescue the day with a stunning bicycle kick equaliser in injury time.
The boot would then be on the other foot in terms of 90+ goals for the final two games of January. The Albion went down 2-1 at Fulham to a 91st minute Harry Wilson free kick.
They then dropped two points the following week when Beto found a 97th minute equaliser to snatch Everton a 1-1 draw from their visit to the Amex.
The patchy form and different individual players doing their best to alleviate it in each game does at least leave the impression that this poll could be wide open.Certainly compared to the past two months dominated by Bart Verbruggen and Ferdi Kadioglu.
Over to you to vote…
Yasin Ayari
Goals against Burnley and Fulham and assists against Manchester City and Everton made January the most productive month of his Brighton career yet. Has become an important player this season to the point whereby a £20 million bid from Nottingham Forest in the final week of the winter transfer window felt a slap across the face.
Pascal Gross
2026 got off to the best possible start when the news broke that Pascal Gross was returning to Brighton from Borussia Dortmund. It did not take him long to continue where he left off when departing the Amex 18 months ago, running the midfield by bringing guile and leadership. His first Gross Turn back in Albion colours against Bournemouth was greeted with a cheer almost as loud as when he opened the scoring with his first goal against Everton.
Brajan Gruda
Gruda was good enough at United in the FA Cup to make the January 2026 WAB Brighton Player of the Month shortlist for that performance alone. And it is the last shortlist he will make this season after being loaned to RB Leipzig. A strange decision leaving Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma as the only fit and available senior wingers for Fabian Hurzeler to select in the second half of the campaign.
Ferdi Kadioglu
Solid as always at full back, whether that was on the left or right. Where he really shone in January was by making two unbelievable goal line clearances in key moments of back-to-back games against Burnley and Manchester City. Take those interventions away and the month might have been even more disappointing than it was.
Jan Paul van Hecke
One of the few Seagulls to consistently rack up scores of seven or above in the matchday player ratings through January. He was good defensively and seemed to add an attacking side to his game, frequently striding into midfield in possession to try and get Brighton on the front foot. And he of course enjoyed his normal tussle with Erling Haaland when the Albion went to the Etihad Stadium.
Danny Welbeck
Welbz is Dat Guy. Like Gruda, makes the shortlist pretty much for his performance at Old Trafford alone where he captained Brighton and scored a thumping winner. Would have added to his goals haul if VAR had not controversially decided he was a centimetre offside when racing clear to finish against Fulham.
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Poll closes at 10pm on Sunday 8th February 2025
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