Brighton & Hove Albion have continued to impress in the English Premier League. The Seagulls have grown from strength to strength since being promoted to the top division. One of the reasons behind this consistency is the transfer business. Brighton have scouted some of the biggest talents in the game. They have given opportunities to youngsters and these players have carried the team throughout the season.
Roberto De Zerbi left the job and Fabian Hurzeler took over his reign. The German manager has some talented players at his disposal. He decided to add another young talent, Brajan Gruda.
The 20-year-old was recruited to Mainz. He has represented the German team at various age levels. Gruda is one of the brightest talents in the game. Brighton began their season with a win and the owners will have some expectations from the team. So what can the young German add to Brighton’s quest for a good 2024-25 season?
High flyer
The Seagulls have added another high-flyer to their ranks. Brajan Gruda is an explosive right-winger with plenty of skill set. Gruda played his first full season with Mainz in the Bundesliga. He made 28 appearances for the club. The pizza chart shows the percentile rank compared to other right-wingers in the Top tier of league football. Gruda is highly ranked for dribbling and attempting progressive passes. This shows that the youngster has an attacking mindset. He is not afraid to take on defenders. The ball progression map shows that Gruda likes to stretch the opposition’s defence. He makes full use of the width of the field.
This plot analyzes a player’s dribbling frequency and success rate, highlighting their capability to penetrate defences and create opportunities. Gruda completed 53% of his dribbles. He attempted just over 10 dribbles per 90 minutes and was successful half of the times.
Brajan Gruda is very effective while playing on the flanks. The amazing ability to dribble past players often wins free kicks for the team. Gruda won these set-pieces in dangerous zones. This shows that the Premier League defender could have a tough time against him.
Goals & more
Brighton’s recruit scored four goals in his first full season in Germany. Most of the shot attempts came from a similar angle for the youngster.
Brajan Gruda also created three goals for his teammates. He is a constant source of passes into the penalty box. The attempts were made from different parts of the field showing that the youngster offers plenty on the field. When compared with Adingra, Gruda created more chances throughout the season. He will provide a challenge for a regular position in the team.
There is a big hope for an exciting season in England. All teams have done some good transfer business and will be hoping for positive results.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine