Maxim De Cuyper

Key strength: Adaptability

Versatile player

In a challenging season that sees Brighton & Hove Albion languishing in 14th place with a worrying run of WLLLD, €22 million summer signing Maxim De Cuyper has emerged as a rare beacon of consistency. The 25-year-old Belgian left-back arrived from Club Brugge with a reputation for attacking prowess, and he hasn't disappointed—registering 2 goals from 25 appearances in over 1,280 minutes of Premier League action. Wearing the number 29 shirt, De Cuyper has seamlessly adapted to Fabian Hürzeler's tactical demands, combining his trademark overlapping runs with the defensive discipline required in England's top flight. Paired alongside fellow countryman Jan Paul van Hecke in the backline and operating behind the dangerous Kaoru Mitoma, De Cuyper has become an integral cog in Brighton's evolving project. Despite the Seagulls' struggles to find their rhythm this campaign, the Belgian's exceptional pace and recovery ability—his key strengths—have made him one of the team's most reliable performers. At just 25, his market value already matches his transfer fee, a testament to his rapid acclimatization and the bright future ahead on the south coast.