Brighton's impressive pressing stats in 2025/26

Brighton have made a mixed start to the season, but the Seagulls' recent form coupled with some league-leading pressing stats suggest Fabian Hurzeler's side are on the right lines. 

After a low-key draw in their opening game against Fulham, the south coast club lost at Everton to sound some early-season alarm bells. 

However, despite one further loss in the league to Bournemouth, the Seagulls' performance levels have markedly improved and Premier League wins over Manchester City and, most recently, Chelsea have steadied the ship on the south coast. 

Last weekend at Stamford Bridge, Brighton capitalised on the 53rd minute sending off of Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah to record a 3-1 win over the current world champions. 

Chalobah's dismissal stemmed from some intense pressure from Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, and their third goal of the afternoon from Danny Welbeck came after Yankuba Minteh had won possession for his side on the edge of their hosts' penalty area. 

Since manager Hurzeler was appointed at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Brighton have been one of the most intense, and most effective, teams in the Premier League when it comes to pressuring opponents in their own half - and their stats this season follow that trend. 

Currently, only Newcastle (81) have more pressed sequences in the division this season than Brighton (73), with the Seagulls ranking fifth overall in terms of passes-per-defensive-action (10.1), a statistic which measures how many passes a team 'allows' its opponent in their defensive third before they interfere. 

Where Brighton really excel, however, is in relation to turning the ball over in their opponent's defensive third. In total , the Seagulls have forced 49 turnovers this season in league play - the most in the Premier League - and more of those have ended in shots (13) and goals (2) than any of their top flight peers. 

Brighton travel to Wolves this Sunday with their hosts currently bottom of the Premier League - the Seagulls no doubt keen to replicate their 2-0 win over the same opposition at Molineux back in May.