Joel Veltman and Igor Julio respond as major Brighton exit confirmed
Brighton pair Joel Veltman and Igor Julio reacted to the latest departure at the Amex Stadium ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Fabian Hurzeler experienced a tough first season at Brighton, coming under heavy pressure from the supporters before ending the campaign on a positive note, winning four of their final five games.
The Seagulls finished eighth in the Premier League table, four points off European qualification, with some very bright signs emerging under the young manager’s leadership.
Joao Pedro‘s £60million move to Chelsea left many disappointed [Sky Sports], but deals for Tom Watson, Charalampos Kostoulas, Diego Coppola, Olivier Boscagli, and Maxim De Cuyper have created more excitement.
Hurzeler will be keen to improve on his first season in England, with European qualification surely next on the list, but he will have to do so without a key first-team player next season.
Brighton wave goodbye to Pervis Estupinan
Taking to Instagram (24 July), the official club account wrote: “Good luck to Pervis Estupinan, who has completed a permanent move to AC Milan,” with a handshaking emoji, bringing an end to his three-year stay.
Both Igor and Veltman liked the post as their teammate switched the Amex Stadium for the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Fabian Hurzeler faces major summer changes
Football Insider verdict
Mick Brown told Football Insider that Hurzeler is concerned by potential Brighton exits, with Pedro and Valentin Barco, Simon Adringra, and Estupinan sealing moves elsewhere.
Evan Ferguson has also joined AS Roma on a season-long loan, but summer moves in the market have already seen many holes plugged by the manager ahead of next season.
The likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Matthew O’Riley, Carlos Baleba, and Jan Paul van Hecke have all been previously linked with exits, but any of their departures now would be quite harmful to the squad.
Newcastle United fans have been excited by potentially signing Van Hecke this summer, but there has been limited movement over the past few weeks, much to the delight of Hurzeler.
If the current squad remains as is, the 32-year-old will be confident of improving on the 2024/25 campaign, but that will be extremely difficult after nearly securing Europa Conference League football.
While Estupinan has been a key player over the last three seasons, the 24-year-old De Cuyper looks a force to be reckoned with from his time with Club Brugge.