Hurzeler Signs New Three-year Contract With Brighton

Fabian Hurzeler has committed to Brighton until 2029, signing a new three-year contract after strong recent form in the Premier League. The deal extends the 33-year-old’s stay on the south coast beyond his previous agreement, which was due to end in 2028, and arrives while Brighton chase European qualification in the closing weeks of the 2025-26 campaign.

The decision also comes after reported interest from Bayer Leverkusen, with Brighton choosing stability as the season reaches its final three league matches. Hurzeler’s side are two points behind sixth-place Bournemouth, with a European place still possible, and Brighton’s hierarchy have backed Hurzeler to drive that push over a longer period.

Hurzeler has spoken of strong personal ties to both the club and the city since arriving as Roberto De Zerbi’s successor in June 2024. "I absolutely love working for this club and living in the city, and I am delighted to have agreed a new contract," Hurzeler told Brighton's official website, stressing the importance of the extension to shared long-term plans.

Brighton and Hurzeler have framed the agreement as part of a wider project focused on style and standards. "To have this long-term commitment from the club is an honour, and one which only reinforces my desire to succeed in delivering on our shared long-term vision. From the beginning, our focus has always been on forging an identity, developing the team, challenging the establishment and pushing our standards every day. I'm proud of what we have done so far, and even more excited about what is still to come."

Hurzeler became the youngest permanent coach in Premier League history two years ago and made an immediate impact. In the first season, Brighton finished eighth, narrowly missing out on European football for 2024-25, yet the club maintained belief in Hurzeler’s methods and squad development despite that near miss.

Across all competitions, Hurzeler has taken charge of 85 matches for Brighton, winning 37, drawing 25 and losing 23. Those figures underline steady progress for a relatively young coach, and form in the current league campaign suggests Brighton are competitive against clubs with larger budgets while still refining their playing identity.

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The contract renewal follows a difficult spell earlier this season when some Brighton supporters called for Hurzeler to be dismissed. That reaction came after a sequence of six Premier League games without victory, during which Brighton drew three matches and lost three, raising questions about momentum and consistency at that stage.

Since that poor run, Brighton have responded by winning six of their last nine top-flight fixtures, signalling a clear improvement. A stretch of four wins in five league games ended against Newcastle United in their most recent outing, but Brighton have still avoided losing back-to-back Premier League matches this season except once, in February against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

Brighton next face already-relegated Wolves, a fixture that offers Hurzeler an opportunity to strengthen the push for Europe and justify the club’s renewed faith. With the new contract secured and a clear long-term framework in place, Hurzeler and Brighton now balance short-term targets with the broader vision set out when Hurzeler first accepted the role in June 2024.