Month: August 2026

From “Messi’ to messy: the loan Seagull struggling to take off

A YEAR AGO Facundo Buonanotte thought he’d made a dream move – a season-long loan from Brighton to Chelsea (reportedly for a £2m fee).

He had been on the brink of a similar temporary move to Leeds when the chance of switching to Stamford Bridge arose almost literally at the last minute.

Within a fortnight, he made his debut in a 2-2 draw away to Brentford in the Premier League, playing behind Joao Pedro and alongside Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens, only to be subbed off at half-time.

Ten days later, he played and scored in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Lincoln in the League Cup.

His autumn wasn’t entirely wasted because he also started in two more Chelsea League Cup games – a 4-3 win away to Wolves and a 3-1 win at Cardiff – and gained European experience in the Champions League with starts v Benfica and Ajax and as a sub on for Joao Pedro v Qarabağ.

There were no more league appearances, though, and it subsequently emerged he only got to play earlier in the season because of the injury absences of Cole Palmer and Liam Delap.

When asked to explain Buonanotte’s lack of involvement, coach Enzo Maresca said: “Facu is working well. He played many games at the beginning because Cole was injured, Liam was injured, so we had more space. There’s not any reason [other than that].”

Buonanotte got one start under Maresca’s successor Liam Rosenior in Chelsea’s 5-1 FA Cup third round win at Charlton, but because of his limited game time with the Londoners his loan was cut short.

Instead of returning to parent club Brighton, he finally got to move to Leeds on a half-season loan and Jason Ayto, Albion’s sporting director at the time, said: “Facundo wants to play and he demonstrated in his loan to Leicester City last season the impact he is able to have in the Premier League when he does.

“This is a great move for all parties and we looking forward to seeing how he continues his development with Leeds United.

Signing for Leeds United

“We wish him well for the remainder of the season and look forward to welcoming him back in the summer.”

Having played in the FA Cup for Chelsea, historically he would have been ruled out of featuring in the competition for Leeds, but the rule changed ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, allowing so-called cup-tied players to represent two clubs.

So, it meant Buonanotte was able to start Leeds’ fourth round FA Cup tie away to Birmingham City – but he was withdrawn at half-time in a game that United won 4-2 on penalties after it finished 1-1.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: “He didn’t have his best game in the FA Cup but it’s also a bit realistic. If you bring a player in who has rarely played a game, this is what happens sometimes. He’s in a challenging position.”

In a slightly curious interview with BBC Sport, Farke sought to downplay expectations of what Buonanotte might offer Leeds, explaining: “We haven’t signed him to improve our 11 straight away. We signed him to improve the depth in our squad.

“We let Jack Harrison go out on loan and Harry Gray out on loan. We spoke openly with Facundo about it. We want to make sure we hold the pressure high on our other options.

“We just like his potential. I told him ‘I don’t write you off after one poor half’. I was half expecting this.”

The German added: “It’s never easy – we give you the stage, support and arm around the shoulder. We don’t expect you to cut this league into pieces. It is step by step. If it works out – great, if not it’s a loan for both sides, not a big risk.”

Farke was blunter when talking to Graham Smyth, of the Yorkshire Evening Post, telling the reporter that Buonanotte just had to get on with any criticism being made, although he pointed out: “He’s a very self-critical lad, fantastic human being, I also like his character.

“He’s not coming to the training ground down, he’s still there each day with a smile on his face, enjoying his life together with us, with teammates, but still working hard.”

Farke continued: “It’s not easy if you have not played that much and especially when you’re young and you face a bit of criticism.

“You have to win your momentum and form back, step by step. This is what you try, what he’s trying to do at the moment.”

As it turned out, the player only made three sub appearances for Leeds after that FA Cup tie and former Chelsea, Leeds and England full-back Tony Dorigo offered an explanation in an interview with goal.com.

“He had a couple of opportunities, didn’t do very well. Had a cup game away at Birmingham, really struggled and came off. And you’ve got to say that the other players in his position, or in and around him, were playing better. Simple as that.

“I’m sure he’s been working hard on the training ground, but so is everyone else. So, it’s been good in that respect, you’ve got to play really, really well to keep your spot or try and get into the side. Unfortunately, Buonanotte just hasn’t.”

When Sussex World suggested to Fabien Hurzeler that it had been a wasted season for Buonanotte, he was a little more conciliatory.

“I think every experience for players is important, no matter if they play or not,” he said. “Of course, if you give a player a loan, it’s always helpful that they play, but in the end we can’t make the decision.

“Daniel Farke will have a reason why he’s not playing, and then it’s about the player to understand what he needs to improve to get into the team.

“What value he needs to show in every training session, that he is an option for the coach. And I think that’s also a learning process for the player, especially for a young player like Buonanotte.”

Perhaps if his season had turned out differently, Buonanotte could have been part of Argentina’s World Cup squad along with his former under-20 teammate Valentín Barco. Buonanotte already had two full caps: one gained in 2023 when he went on as a sub in a 2-0 win over Indonesia, the other in 2024 in a 3-0 victory over El Salvador.

Hurzeler said: “I know that he has incredible potential and a lot of talent, but that’s not everything in the Premier League. It’s about work ethic, it’s about being hard to yourself, it’s about suffering if you’re not playing, trying to understand and reflect your own behaviour.”

Saying the player needed to learn to take ownership and responsibility for the situation he found himself in, he added: “Hopefully he gets the right conclusion, the right consequences out of it and we’ll get a better player.”

But the wait goes on for Brighton fans to see Buonanotte back in Albion’s colours because at the beginning of August it was announced he was heading off to Spain on yet another season-long loan, this time to newly-promoted La Liga side Elche under Argentinian head coach Martin Anselmi.

On the move again – Buonanotte has gone on a season-long loan to Spanish side Elche
Sliding in for the Albion in pre-season

Buonanotte, still only 21, was involved in Albion’s pre-season camp in Austria and played as a no.10 as a second half substitute against Strasbourg in Vienna.

He obviously didn’t do enough to convince Hurzeler to keep him within a squad that is also contending with European games this season although when announcing his departure to Spain,

Albion sporting director Mike Cave said: “Facundo is a talented young player who has continued to develop since joining the club.

“This loan gives him the opportunity to play regular football in one of Europe’s top leagues.

“We believe this move will provide an excellent environment for him to gain further experience, and we’ll continue to monitor his progress closely throughout the season.”

Born in Perez, Argentina, two days before Christmas 2004, Buonanotte began his football journey aged just 10 in the youth academy of top Argentine side Rosario Central and he was regarded as one of the most talented graduates from the club since Ángel Di María.

Brighton’s intention to sign him at the age of 17 when the January 2023 transfer window opened was first spoken of in August 2022 and headlines described him as “a wonder kid”.

The club’s technical director at the time, David Weir said: “Facundo is a player we have been aware of for some time, and we have been watching for a while.”

By November that year, he had just completed his first season of top flight football in his home country and Rosario’s boss, the former Man Utd and West Ham striker Carlos Tevez, compared the youngster to Lionel Messi!

“When he brakes and accelerates he reminds me of Messi,” Tevez said after Rosario beat Barracas in August, as reported by Rosario3. “I haven’t seen a boy play like that for a long time.

“Facu has a great mentality, he doesn’t seem to be 17 years old. He is at a very high level, one thinks that he has no ceiling, it is where he wants to go. Today he is physically impeccable.”

Buonanotte played in the Rosario midfield alongside Francis Mac Allister – brother of Alexis.

“I spoke with my brother and he told me that he is an amazing guy and a really good player,” Alexis Mac Allister said. “I am really excited for him. I told him that he is in the right place to keep growing his career.

“I spoke with the Argentina coaching staff when they asked me about him. I said that he’s a very exciting player and once he gets used to the league he will become a top player.”

The young Argentinian in the thick of the action against Manchester City

After signing for Brighton for a reported £5.3m fee on a contract to June 2027, Buonanotte didn’t have to wait long for his first taste of first team action.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi sent him on as a substitute for Tariq Lamptey with 15 minutes left of the 4 February home game against AFC Bournemouth. An 88th-minute goal by Kaoru Mitoma earned Albion all three points.

Handed his first Premier League start three days after Albion lost on penalties to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final, Buonanotte marked it with a goal at the City Ground, Nottingham, but Albion went down 3-1. It was one of seven starts he made, plus seven appearances off the bench as the Seagulls finished in their highest ever spot of sixth.

In a season in which Brighton competed in Europe for the first time, Buonanotte scored five times in 23 starts plus 13 sub appearances. I was at Stamford Bridge on 3 December 2023 when he pulled one back for the Albion just before half time, curling the ball into the bottom left corner of Robert Sanchez’s goal, in a tetchy encounter that saw Conor Gallagher sent off and eight players booked as Chelsea edged it 3-2.

Facundo for the Albion takes aim at Stamford Bridge…..and his sweet, curling left foot shot beats Robert Sanchez

In spite of the defeat, De Zerbi spoke warmly of Buonanotte’s performance saying: “He played very well, his best game at Brighton. He is getting better and better.

“I know when a young player plays they can make mistakes and need to improve. If they have a talent, a quality, they become better. Facundo can become an important player for us.”

The following month, after the youngster had scored a stunner in Albion’s 5-2 FA Cup win at Sheffield United, De Zerbi told The Athletic he wanted to see more from him in the no.10 role.

“My demand for Facundo is to shoot and make assists, because his qualities are clear. Facundo is another important young player and he is improving a lot. He’s a smart guy, a good guy. I can’t say anything (bad) about his attitude, behaviour on the pitch.

“He has big qualities. It’s difficult to change country when you are so young, to change the style of football because the Premier League is a different competition to all other leagues.

“But he is improving a lot. He played very well; I think the best game of his time at Brighton.”

Once De Zerbi had parted company with the Albion, although Buonanotte was involved in pre-season fixtures under Fabian Hurzeler, the Argentinian was sent out on a season-long loan to Leicester City.

Hurzeler said: “I hope first of all that he will play [for Leicester]. If you play every game, you will develop. He’s still a player for Brighton so we will watch his development.

“He was very good in training. Very happy with him. For me, it’s always important that players try to develop themselves. That only happens if they play. I hope he will get the minutes at Leicester and come back a stronger, better player.”

Although the Foxes were relegated back to the Championship, Buonanotte scored six goals in 35 matches and caught the eye of various observers. Ex-Arsenal and Leicester striker Alan Smith told Instant Casino: “He’s young and has a lot of improving to do before he’s top class. But to be playing so well for a team like Leicester who are in a different situation to Brighton as he has, he’ll certainly be an exciting talent going forwards, wherever he ends up.

“This loan period at Leicester will be great experience for the young midfielder as he is getting regular game time and really seems to be making a difference there. He’ll likely return to Brighton as an even better player with that experience under his belt.”

One of his problems in trying to nail down a permanent role at Brighton is competition in the positions best suited to him, and Hurzeler seems to have doubts about his application.

According to totalfootballanalysis.com: “He thrives in a free-attacking role that allows him to roam the pitch and exploit spaces. This makes him an exceptional creative playmaker, and his inclination to cut inside also makes him a remarkable roaming playmaker.”

Is his versatility an advantage or disadvantage? totalfootballanalysis.com maintains:

“Buonanotte possesses the ability to adapt effectively within different systems when required,” and it speculates his long-term potential could lie in the role of an advanced playmaker.

“This position typically involves a high volume of passes into the final third and direct creation of chances while in possession.”

The comparison to Messi may well have been a blessing and a curse, although Buonanotte told Sky Sports’ Nick Wright in December 2023: “It had an impact! To be compared to, for me, the best player in the world is something that grabs your attention.

“I was very grateful to Carlos (Tevez). It was amazing to be compared to Leo. But I always say that, in my opinion, there are no players who compare to him. It would be a lack of respect for me to compare myself to him because it’s impossible.

“Leo is the best player in the world, possibly in history, and I’m just starting out. I just want to be Facundo Buonanotte.”

Promotion-winner Alan Curbishley’s rare cross-city switch

ALAN CURBISHLEY, a 1988 promotion winner with third tier Brighton, five years earlier had a watching brief as an unused sub for Aston Villa in a top-flight 0-0 draw with the relegation-bound Seagulls.

That trip to the Goldstone Ground on 26 March 1983 was his first involvement for Villa following a rare transfer between Second City rivals – a £100,000 fee plus makeweight Robert Hopkins taking him from St Andrew’s to Villa Park.

Villa hadn’t signed a player from the Blues since Geoff Vowden’s £12,500 move in March 1971 — and, after Tony Barton’s capture of Curbishley, they didn’t do so again until Spaniard Jota in July 2019.

On the post for Birmingham

After four seasons with City, Curbishley joined a Villa side who were the reigning European Cup holders and fourth in the table at the time. While it was a commendable result for bottom-of-the-table Brighton coming on the back of draws against leaders Liverpool (2-2) and third-placed Manchester United (1-1), Jimmy Melia’s side needed wins to have any chance of staying up.

On the ball for Villa

As for Curbishley, he was again an unused sub the following week, away to Ipswich Town, but two days later, against his former club, he finally got a run-out as a 74th-minute sub for Des Bremner (brother of his future Albion teammate Kevin Bremner). Gary Shaw got the only goal of the game to give Villa the bragging rights.

It wasn’t until 19 April that Curbishley got his first start, slotting into midfield alongside Gordon Cowans and Dennis Mortimer, who scored the only goal of the game as Villa beat West Brom 1-0.

The new man’s debut caught the eye of this newspaper reporter, who wrote: “Curbishley’s quietly produced passes concealed their often considerable effect. Twice late in the match he tackled successfully at vital moments.

“It may well be that Curbishley, late of Birmingham City, is the type of player who makes a bigger mark in a better team for last night he appeared to have more time than ever he did at St Andrew’s.”

His second start saw him face another former club in West Ham and it was an unhappy afternoon because he picked up a booking and Villa lost 2-0.

Curbishley had begun his career with the Hammers and made 85 appearances across the First and Second Divisions before a £275,000 move to Birmingham in 1979.

Although his Villa career was under way, it didn’t pan out in the way he envisaged.

“I had high hopes of success there with them just having won the European Cup,” he told Dave Beckett in an Albion matchday programme article.

“It was soon obvious though that Tony Barton was under pressure from the moment he took over and all the players thought it was just a matter of time before he was sacked.

“He got a raw deal. That season we finished ninth in the league, got to the semis of the League Cup and were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the last minute on the away goals rule.”

Curbishley played the majority of his Villa games under Barton in the 1983-84 season. A creator rather than a scorer, his only goal for the club was scored in a 3-2 defeat at Watford on Boxing Day 1983, a long-range shot that squeezed past Steve Sherwood in the Hornets’ goal.

Come the end of the season, Barton was replaced by Shrewsbury Town boss Graham Turner who proceeded to let go anyone who was a Barton signing.

In Richard Sydenham’s book Ticket To The Moon (deCoubertin Books), which charts Villa’s rise and fall in that period, the journalist discovered Curbishley was given an ex-gratia payment of £30,000 to leave Villa.

After 41 starts plus two as a sub (and nine as an unused sub), Curbishley was sold to Charlton Athletic for £40,000 in December 1984. It was the beginning of a long association with the Addicks punctuated only by his spell at Brighton under Barry Lloyd.

Off the field, Charlton were forced to move from their traditional home at The Valley and play home matches at Selhurst Park, but against that backdrop they managed to win promotion back to the 1st Division in 1986.

Unfortunately, Curbishley sustained an achilles tendon injury and only played 10 games in the 1986-87 season. “I knew I had an achilles injury but the operation was delayed until a week before the start of the new season and consequently I wasn’t fit again until December,” said Curbishley.

“The manager bought two new midfield players, which I understood, but, when I was fit again, I couldn’t get back into the side.”

After 13 seasons playing in the top two divisions, he left Charlton having scored six times in 63 games and dropped down to the Third to join the Albion for £32,500. He made his debut in a goalless draw at Chesterfield on 22 August 1987 in front of a crowd of just 2,286.

After the departure of Jimmy Case in 1985, the centre of Albion’s midfield had been crying out for someone who could put their foot on the ball and pass it, and Curbishley stepped neatly into that role, scoring six goals – mostly penalties – in 34 appearances as Brighton won promotion.

“Alan was a very level-headed guy, an excellent passer and really disciplined,” Albion boss Barry Lloyd told Spencer Vignes in a matchday programme article.

In total, over three years on the south coast, Curbishley played 127 games (plus five as sub) – making his 400th league appearance during the 1988-89 season – and scored 15 goals.

In 1990, Curbishley began his coaching career, returning to Charlton initially as player-coach under Lennie Lawrence. When Lawrence left in 1991, Charlton made the somewhat unusual decision to appoint joint managers: Curbishley and Steve Gritt (who would later be at the helm when Albion narrowly escaped dropping out of the league).

Curbishley’s first signings for Charlton were former Albion teammates Garry Nelson and Steve Gatting and he later plundered young winger John Robinson from the Seagulls. After four years, Curbishley took sole charge at The Valley and led Charlton to some of the most successful times in their history.

Born in Forest Gate, London on 8 November 1957, within a mile of West Ham station, he was one of five children (elder brother Bill famously promoted and managed The Who and Led Zeppelin and was producer of the films Tommy and Quadrophenia).

Curbishley first played in Brighton at under 11 level, in a Newham Boys side against Brighton Boys at Longhill School, in May 1967. He was later capped for England Boys aged 15 and after joining the Hammers straight from school played for England Youth.

He won nine England Youth caps under Ken Burton, scoring on his debut in a 1-1 draw against Poland in Las Palmas on 21 January 1975 when England went on to win the Atlantic Cup. Among his teammates were future England captain Bryan Robson, Peter Barnes and Keith Bertschin.

He vied for a starting berth with Mark Nightingale (Palace, Bournemouth, Norwich, Peterborough), making six starts and three appearances off the bench. His last appearance was in a 1-0 win over Wales in Cardiff on 11 February 1976, playing alongside Glenn Hoddle and Gary Owen.

Curbishley earned his one and only England Under 21 cap in a 5-0 thrashing of Switzerland at Portman Road when Justin Fashanu was among the scorers. He hoped to go to the 1982 World Cup with England, having broken into the England B squad, but fractured a kneecap sliding into a tackle with Albion’s Brian Horton.

“I missed the rest of the season and the start of the next, and the World Cup squad which I might have broken into otherwise,” he said. “It was the worst disappointment I’ve ever faced.”

They came to Brighton from the land of the midnight sun

ARGUABLY the most successful Norwegian to have played for the Albion was defender Leo Østigård, who represented Norway at the recent World Cup.

As I covered in a recent blog post about him, Østigård was impatient for first team football and moved on without taking that step up with the Seagulls.

Nevertheless, he said: “For a Norwegian player to come over to England and be involved with a Premier League team is really good, and obviously makes me very proud.

“I know that a lot of people from Norway are watching me and keeping track of my progress, so it’s always great to be involved in such a big team – football is massive in this country and it’s fantastic.”

• A left-sided defender who was already an experienced Norwegian international when he joined up with Chris Hughton’s promotion-chasing Championship side in 2017 only got as far as Albion’s subs bench.

Vegard Forren, 29 at the time, was signed in March 2017 as back-up when central defensive cover in that position was limited.

Hughton said: “Vegard is a player the club had been aware of for some time, and with the absence of Shane Duffy and Connor Goldson, we felt it was important to take this opportunity to add to our defensive options.

“Vegard has played the majority of his career for Molde, one of the top clubs in Norway, and has an excellent pedigree having also played in the Champions League, Europa League and 33 times for his country.

“With Shane out for a minimum of six weeks, alongside Lewis Dunk, Uwe Huenemeier and Fikayo Tomori, Vegard gives us another central defensive option for the run-in.”

Earlier in his career, Forren was at Southampton for six months, but he spent ten years with Molde, winning three championships and two domestic cups.

He had turned down a new contract at the club the previous season and left the club when the domestic season ended in November. He had been pre-season training with Norwegian side Rosenborg before joining the Albion.

• Back in the Gus Poyet era, striker Torbjørn (‘Toby’) Agdestein spent three years as an Albion player but his time was spent mainly with the development squad with occasional sub appearances for the first team.

Born in Stord, Norway, on 29 November 1991, Agdestein went through the ranks at Stord Idrettslag where he was spotted by Brighton.

In his early days with the club, he had a short loan spell with Bath City, and 13 goals in 13 appearances for the development squad earned him a new two-year deal in March 2012.

Poyet told the club website: “Toby has understood what we have been trying to teach him from the beginning and under Luke Williams (development squad coach) he has become a better player.

“He can play anywhere in attack and he knows when to pass the ball, when to keep the ball and when to shoot.

“He’s a great prospect for the club and he’s produced it for us when he’s come on in first-team games. I know that I can count on him.”

Agdestein in action for Albion v Wrexham

After impressing in Albion’s first two pre-season friendlies in July 2012 Poyet urged him to push for more first team action.

“I’m promising nothing because if I tell you now he is a first team player and next week he doesn’t touch the ball, he doesn’t make any decisions, he doesn’t go past people, he doesn’t score, then he is going to go down (to the development squad),” Poyet cautioned.

“The thing is right now he is with us in the first team squad. The opportunity is there to stay with us. He knows that.”

As it turned out, his contract was terminated by mutual consent with a year left on it and he moved to the north of Scotland to join Inverness Caledonian Thistle, under former England international Terry Butcher.

Butcher told the Daily Record: “He is 6ft 1ins tall and gives us the option of height up front, quite a contrast with wee Billy McKay, our top striker.

“We like the look of Torbjorn, he’s young and strong and willing to learn.

“We’re happy he has agreed to sign until the January window to boost our attacking resources and we can make a decision at that point.”

However, having made only 13 league and cup appearances as a sub, he decided to return to Norway and he played variously for Haugesund, Kristiansund, Odd and Ålesund before returning to his old club, Stord.

• COMBATIVE midfielder Mathias Normann eventually made it to the Premier League with Norwich City having not got beyond Brighton’s under-23 development squad.

Indeed, two of Normann’s 21 (plus three sub appearances) games for the Canaries in 2021-22 were in central midfield in home and away goalless draws with the Seagulls.

When he joined Simon Rusk’s squad from Norwegian second tier side Bodø/Glimt in July 2017, he told the matchday programme: “This is a dream come true for me and it’s very nice for me to be here.

“It’s something that I have always wanted to do since I was a little boy, so this is absolutely fantastic.”

However, within a month, Normann was sent on a season-long loan back to his homeland to play for top tier (Elitserien) Molde under Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

The former Manchester United player and manager said at the time: “He is a quality player, which he particularly demonstrated in the Tippeligaen last year when he showed clear leadership qualities. He complements the other midfielders we have in an excellent way.”

Born in Svolvær on 28 May 1996, Normann began his football career at Svolvær and Lofoten FK before moving to Bodø/Glimt ahead of the 2013 season. He was loaned to Alta for the 2015 season.

On his return to Brighton in the summer of 2018 after the season with Molde, he was sent off (for two yellow cards) on his debut for the under-23s in a 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

Team boss Rusk said: “He is quite combative and I think it was the right decision. Maybe when he is a little more match sharp, with a few more games under his belt, he might not be picking up that second yellow.”

Normann played in the same Albion side as Ben White, Østigård, Aaron Connolly and Viktor Gyökeres that drew 2-2 with Peterborough United and beat MK Dons 3-2 in the Checkatrade Trophy.

He featured 11 times for the under-23s but the following January left on a permanent basis to join Russian club FC Rostov.

Rusk said at the time: “It’s been enjoyable to work with Mathias during his time at the club, but this move makes sense for all parties involved, with it being an excellent move for him.”

It was from Rostov that Norwich signed Normann on loan and City boss Daniel Farke told the club’s official website. “It’s not easy for us to bring a player in who had many clubs interested in him.

“We see lots of potential in Mathias and he’s capable to play in several roles. He’s quite versatile in the midfield positions.

“Quite often, he plays the holding midfield position. But he’s very good with his passing choices and is a good technical player. He’s not the tallest but is still very good in the air and in the duels.”

Ahead of that first game he played against the Albion, The Argus asked the opinion of Connor Southwell, who covers the Canaries for the Eastern Daily Press.

“The biggest compliment I can give to Mathias Normann is that he’s been the best player for Norwich in every game he has played.

“I’ve been sat in the press box at both Everton and Burnley and on both occasions local media for the opposition have praised his efforts,” said Southwell.

“He’s added a real quality into Norwich’s midfield and has rapidly become the first name on the team sheet. He combines tenacity with technical quality with ease.”

Normann made his full Norway debut in 2019 and went on to earn 12 full caps. After his season with Norwich, he returned to Russia to play for Dynamo Moscow, then in 2023 moved to the Middle East where he has since played for Saudi side Al-Raed, Qatari outfit Al-Sailiya and another Qatari side, Al-Gharafa, on loan.

• With the signing of people like Anthony Knockaert, Jiri Skalak and Steve Sidwell plus Liam Ridgewell on loan, Henrik Bjørdal’s arrival at Brighton for a reported £300,000 from Ålesund in January 2016 rather went under the radar.

And that’s pretty much where he stayed because Chris Hughton had plenty more experienced wingers at his disposal with the likes of Knockaert, Solly March and Jamie Murphy.

The player spoke about his prospects in an interview with Andy Naylor for The Argus in January 2017, when he declared: “I didn’t come here to play too much under-23 football. I was hoping I would be close to first team level. I want to play at as high a level as possible, of course.

“I feel like I have made progress, but it’s a promotion team. It’s very difficult to come in, I know that.”

While recognising the difficulty of breaking into the first team picture, Bjørdal told Naylor: “Anthony is a player I like to watch and learn from.

“He’s a skilful player who likes to beat his man. I’m the same type of player and I want to do the same sort of things as him, so of course I want to train with the first team and try to see what he’s doing, to be as good as him.”

He added: “It’s more difficult to play a game when the team is top of the table but I like that challenge. It’s good to be around a team who wins almost every week.”

Born in Ålesund on 4 February 1997, Bjørdal played youth football for IL Valder then progressed through Norwegian top tier side Ålesund’s youth ranks to their first team.

His switch to the Albion found him playing in front of far fewer people than he had been used to; his hometown club often had crowds of 7,000 in a 10,000-capacity stadium.

“It’s a little bit different from playing at Crawley! It’s a bit more silent than I was used to,” he said.

“I played for them in the first team for two seasons, in the top league, playing against good teams. It’s not easy to compare.”

Two months after that interview, he was loaned to Swedish side IFK Göteborg until the end of that season.

When the breakthrough at Brighton didn’t materialise, in June 2018 Bjørdal made a permanent move to Belgian side Zulte Waregem and in an interview with Ålesund’s newspaper, Sunnmørsposten, he said: “The time in England didn’t quite turn out as I imagined.

“When I look back at it, there are periods I’ve been frustrated, but I’ve come out stronger mentally and as a player. It’s been good for me.”

From Belgium, he returned to Norway and since 2020 has played for Oslo-based Vålerenga.