Jack Hinshelwood

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

In a Brighton side treading water in 9th place after an inconsistent LLWLW run, 21-year-old academy graduate Jack Hinshelwood has emerged as Fabian Hürzeler's understated metronome. The defensive midfielder has quietly accumulated 21 appearances and 1,266 minutes this season, contributing 1 goal and 3 assists from his deep-lying station. With a €28 million market value that exemplifies Brighton's renowned recruitment philosophy, Hinshelwood represents the club's model perfected: develop, deploy, appreciate. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker with a 68 passing rating—his standout attribute—he provides the defensive platform that allows Kaoru Mitoma and Brighton's wide threats to flourish. While Carlos Baleba offers physicality and James Milner brings experience, it's Hinshelwood's composure and ball retention that offer something truly priceless: a homegrown solution who could anchor this midfield for the next decade. In a team searching for consistency, the England youth international's discipline—zero yellow cards in 21 outings—provides the steady heartbeat Hürzeler desperately needs.