Joël Veltman

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

At 34, Joël Veltman embodies the seasoned pragmatism Brighton desperately need as they navigate a challenging campaign in 14th place. The Dutch veteran has made 16 appearances this season—contributing 1 goal and 1 assist across 914 minutes of Premier League football—proving his enduring relevance in Fabian Hürzeler's rotation plans. Though his €2.5m market value belies his true worth, Veltman's €2.5m valuation reflects experience money can't buy. The former Ajax academy graduate, who arrived on England's south coast in July 2020, has evolved into an overlapping full-back whose 5 yellow cards testify to his uncompromising defensive instincts. His chemistry with compatriots Jan Paul van Hecke and rising star Jack Hinshelwood has forged a mini-Dutch defensive coalition that stabilizes Brighton's backline. While flashier talents grab headlines, Veltman's positional intelligence and versatility—comfortable at both right-back and centre-back—make him the squad's unsung architectural element. As the Seagulls fight to climb the table, his mentorship of younger defenders and 78-rated defensive nous provide the quiet foundation upon which Brighton's ambitions rest.