‘Thanks, I’m happy where I am’ – Brighton have got it badly wrong after transfer collapses
Brighton are in a tricky situation after Lewis Dunk refused to go to Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the cracks are starting to show in the Seagulls’ long-term planning.
A report from the Daily Mail on 9 February suggests that the Brighton captain rejected a move to the City Ground in order to stay at the AMEX Stadium.
Keith Wyness: Brighton have taken another misstep as Lewis Dunk saga unfolds
Dunk is one of Brighton’s best servants in their history.
The centre-back has made 512 appearances in the history of the club and has led them from League One to become an established Premier League side.
Despite the defender now being 34 years old, the former England international has still made 26 appearances in all competitions this season.
Therefore, when the report came out that Brighton tried to sell the centre-back on deadline day, only for him to reject the move, it did not go down well at the AMEX Stadium.
🚨| Lewis Dunk was left ‘surprised’ after Brighton accepted a bid from Nottingham Forest for him in January.
— The Brighton Base (@TheBrightonBase) February 9, 2026
The offer from Forest included a significant pay rise and a contract to 2028. The Seagulls felt that, given the service Dunk had given to the club, he deserved to be… pic.twitter.com/5LS6Ba1ZET
Now, Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that the saga has exposed the cracks in Brighton’s traditionally great planning.
He said: “It is a strange situation, certainly, because normally the club would have at least had some inkling as to whether he would have accepted or not, whether he was up for a move.
“And it was almost like, you know, Lewis, we love you, but by the way, mate, would you mind going? And it was a bit of a strange situation. I think it hasn’t been received well, I don’t think, by a lot of the Brighton fans as well, who see him as one of their regulars, and he’s been a great servant to the club.
“It is a strange situation. Again, this is another sort of a little bit of a misstep from Brighton. As we’ve seen, know, a few things are starting to, a few questions are starting to be asked down there. There’s no doubt about it.
“And for Dunk to say, ‘thanks, I’m quite happy where I am’. It just means that their planning and their famous succession planning isn’t quite going as they wanted it to right now.”
- Read more: Exclusive: Fabian Hurzeler fighting for his job at Brighton after ‘fall-out with star players’
What has Fabian Hurzeler said about Lewis Dunk?
Despite Brighton trying to sell Dunk, Fabian Hurzeler was seemingly quite pleased that Dunk rejected a move to Nottingham Forest on deadline day.
Speaking to Sussex World on 10 February, the Seagulls manager said before their tie against Aston Villa:“I need him here. There’s two perspectives. There’s always rumours in the transfer window but what’s most important is Lewis’ perspective.
“Then he made his decision, and I’m really appreciating his decision.”