It wouldn’t have taken a genius to work out that Pascal Gross’ departure from Brighton would leave a big hole in their squad. However, despite a busy summer in 2024, the Albion failed to replace Gross properly.
Yes, they bought new midfielders, but none that carried out the same role as Gross. In 2024/25, something about Brighton’s attacking play didn’t feel quite right but nobody could fully put their finger on the issue.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrighton scored more goals and registered similar xG and xA figures to the previous year with Gross in the side, making the issue even harder to pinpoint.
Last season Brighton’s highest chance creator was Kaoru Mitoma with 37. In 2023/24, Brighton’s highest chance creator was Pascal Gross with 103, that’s 66 more chances created with Pascal Gross in the side.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat’s it. That’s where the problem lies. Brighton had lost their attacking spark and essentially 66 opportunities to score.
That’s why there were such contrasting purple patches last season. When strikers were in form and over-performing, the wins would come thick and fast. Nobody would notice the void.
But, when it came to simpler matches or times where strikers weren’t in form, there was no spark in attack. That’s because of Pascal Gross. He was the spark. Even when attackers were having off days, Gross would create enough opportunities for something to eventually happen.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat made Pascal Gross so valuable at Brighton?
Gross wasn’t just about assists, it was his creative play in all areas of the pitch. If he wasn’t the one playing the final pass, chances were he was orchestrating play another way.
He made almost three key passes per match in 2023/24, as well as 5.35 shot-creating actions per match. What was even better was the areas from which he was creating chances.
Gross could play anywhere in midfield and still have an impact on attacks. In 2023/24, he averaged more than 30 touches in the attacking third per 90, in addition to almost seven passes into the final third per 90 and 8.73 progressive passes per 90.
Brighton’s drop-off without Gross
Since his arrival in the 2017/18 season, Gross has been Brighton’s top chance creator every season until his departure in 2023/24. In 2023/24, only Bruno Fernandes (114) created more chances in the Premier League than his 103.
During his seven-year stint on the South Coast, Gross created 508 chances.
After his departure, there was a significant drop off in numbers. They averaged less possession despite Fabian Hurzeler’s ‘possession-heavy’ style. They also completed fewer passes per match.
Throughout the entire season, the difference in creativity was evident in three key metrics. The number of progressive passes, progressive carries and shot-creating actions all dipped the season after Gross moved to Borussia Dortmund.
Another number that took a hit was touches which went from 29,112 in 2023/24 to just 23,677 in 2024/25 (-5,435).
How to find a suitable replacement
To find someone who could replace Gross properly, they would need to excel in the areas that took a hit last season.
Therefore, I created a player profile template, comparing Gross’ numbers from 2023/24 to every player across Europe to find someone who shared similarities.
The key areas in which they had to match are below. In addition to the numbers, the player also needed to have some kind of positional flexibility, like Gross did.
The internal option: Matt O’Riley
Brighton signed Matt O’Riley from Celtic last summer for £25 million after he enjoyed an incredible season in Scotland. The Danish midfielder scored 19 goals and provided 18 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24.
He seemed perfect to fill the role after Gross but he suffered a horrible injury six minutes into his Brighton debut and struggled to force his way into the squad since.
Despite all this, O’Riley is the most obvious option to replace Gross, because not only do Brighton already have him, but his numbers matched the German’s too.
Embed from Getty ImagesMatt O’Riley offers the kind of control, awareness and end product that defined Gross’ role at Brighton. He links midfield and attack, drops deep when needed, and times his movement into the box well.
His best position is as a box-to-box midfielder, but he’s played as a 10, occasionally filled in wide right, and even sat deeper in a pivot. That range has made him key to Celtic’s possession structure. In 2023/24, he ranked highly for progressive passes, passes into the final third and touches per 90.
He also produced 19 goals and 18 assists across all competitions which is a rare output for a midfielder who spent so much time connecting play.
O’Riley combines well centrally, especially in tight triangles, and he drifts wide comfortably to link with wingers or full-backs. His movement across midfield lines isn’t identical to Gross’ but his function is similar.
External option one: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz)
Mainz’s Nadiem Amiri was the only player who hit all eight filters on the player profile which made him stand out immediately. The 28-year-old can play anywhere in midfield and does a job out on the flanks too.
Statistically, the fit is striking. Amiri averaged 7.42 progressive passes, 2.29 key passes per 90 and 6.04 crosses per 90.
But beyond the numbers, Amiri’s tactical intelligence stands out. At Mainz, he often drops into deep zones to pick up the ball, before driving up the field to progress play and create goal-scoring opportunities.
His ability to dictate tempo and retain the ball under pressure allows him to make the entire team tick. Add his impressive set-piece deliveries to the mix and you’ve got one top option for Brighton to sign.
Defensively, Amiri has matured, showing improved positioning and pressing awareness in a deeper role. For Brighton to replace Gross, Amiri might be the most like-for-like option in Europe.
He would cost around £20 million according to TransferMarkt, but acquiring his services this summer would be tough. Mainz director of sport, Christian Heidel, said: “We are not letting him go. He will stay with 99.9 percent certainty.”
External option two: Aleix Garcia (Bayer Leverkusen)
Aleix Garcia is a deep-lying playmaker who sets the tempo and keeps his side in control without needing to dominate physically. He prefers to sit behind the ball and play vertical passes through pressure, staying methodical rather than dynamic.
He links the first and second phases well, and matches well with many of Gross’ numbers. He averaged 3.41 shot-creating actions, 5.34 crosses, 8.02 passes into the final third and 89.9 touches, all on a per 90 basis.
The only two metrics he didn’t hit were progressive passes per 90 (6.78) and key passes per 90 (1.73), but only marginally.
He mainly plays as a deep central midfielder but can shift to the left in a double pivot or even drop into the back line when needed. In 2024/25 he ranked among Europe’s top midfielders for possession value and build-up involvement.
He doesn’t drift wide often but combines well with inverted full-backs and links naturally with midfielders. He offered a bit less in the final third than Gross but only made 17 starts last season. Still, he continued to provide control in deeper areas.
The 28-year-old’s contract doesn’t expire until 2029, so Brighton would have to pay around £20 million to secure his signature, according to TransferFeed.
Conclusion
Brighton didn’t just lose a midfielder when Gross left. They lost their problem-solver in the final third. The club replaced his position but never truly replaced his presence.
What followed was a season that looked good on paper but lacked the structure, fluency and end product Gross quietly guaranteed. Replacing a legend is never easy. If Brighton want to restore the attacking spark they lost, one of these three players could be the answer.
Written by Isabelle Newnham
INMR FOOTBALL 
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