Brighton man takes six-figure pay cut after official documents filed
Brighton’s highest-paid director has taken a significant pay cut after last season’s accounts have been revealed.
Brighton posted their accounts for the 2024-25 campaign on Friday (9 January), showing their revenue has fallen from £260.9million in 2023-24 to £242.7m.
It is believed chief executive Paul Barber is the highest-paid director at the Amex Stadium, having spent the past 14 years with the club.
Barber was paid £3.2m in the 2023-24 campaign, while the latest accounts revealed his annual salary dropped to just under £2.7m last season.
Fabian Hurzeler led Brighton to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League, having arrived from St Pauli in the summer of 2024.
Why Brighton recorded significant financial loss last season
Brighton recorded a club-record revenue in 2023-24 after competing in the Europa League during that campaign.
The lack of European football last season saw the Seagulls’ broadcast revenue drop from £163.8m to £151.1m.
Meanwhile, matchday income remained static at £27.9m and commercial revenue increased from £20.7m to £22.8m as they look to cash in on opportunities at the Amex.
Brighton have been one of the best-run clubs in the Premier League under owner Tony Bloom, having posted significant profits in recent years.
However, the south-coast outfit went from recording a £75.1m pre-tax profit in 2023-24 to a pre-tax loss of £55.8m last season.
Brighton pointed to the dramatic change in their player-trading results, which fell from a £68.1m profit to a £25m loss, as a key reason behind their substantial deficit.
How much do Brighton spend on player wages?
While Brighton are not one of the clubs paying the highest wages in the Premier League, their salary costs did increase last season.
The latest accounts revealed the wage bill at the Amex surged from £146.2m to £164.6m, marking their highest-ever outlay in that department.
The Seagulls spent £210.5m on new signings, with 12 players arriving through the door across the campaign.
While Brighton have received big money for several stars in recent years, they only brought in £64.3m from player sales last season.
However, the club brought in £127m from player sales last summer, while £71m was spent on new arrivals.
Hurzeler’s side currently sit 11th in the Premier League table, but they are just four points behind fifth-place Brentford after 21 games this season.
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