Brighton’s 14th player out on loan – Brajan Gruda departs for Leipzig in search of game time

Deadline day departure 

Brighton winger Brajan Gruda has returned to the Bundesliga after agreeing a deal to join RB Leipzig on loan for the remainder of the season. In the early hours of deadline day, the Seagulls released a statement confirming that the 21-year-old talent would make the move to Germany in the hope of finding more game time in the second half of the season. “Brajan wants regular football, and we are not able to guarantee him that in the second half of the season, so this loan represents a good move for all parties,” said Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler. “This move gives him that opportunity, a chance to continue his development and we wish him well for the remainder of the season.” The deal does not include any clauses to make the move permanent.

Gruda joined Brighton from Bundesliga side Mainz in the summer of 2024 for €31.5 million – the highest fee the club had ever received for one of its players, which clearly showcased the immense promise both clubs believed Gruda had. However, A minor injury before the new season meant that Gruda didn’t make his Premier League debut until seven weeks into the league campaign and despite a handful of starts in the second half of the season, the young winger found himself struggling for serious game time. Things improved slightly this season, with Gruda starting 33% of Brighton’s league games prior to his January move, but with a spot in the German national team up for grabs ahead of the summer’s World Cup, the young forward clearly feels as though he needs to be starting regularly in a top league to get a spot in Julian Nagelsmann’s side.

While loan deals away from the parent club can often spell the end for players, Brighton are perhaps something of an exception in this regard. The Seagulls have become industry leaders when it comes to developing young players and farming them out to clubs around Europe to gain necessary game time. Gruda’s move to Leipzig now means that the English club have no less than 14 first team players out on loan at other clubs this season. The total market value of those players comes to an impressive sum of €159.7m – which is higher than any other Premier League club this season, putting Brighton well ahead of second-placed Manchester United (six players out on loan: €130m combined market value) and Manchester City (eight players out on loan: €121m combined market value).