Seagull Strikers

This rather large blog will analyse the squad in its current state ahead of the new WSL season kicking off on the 6th/7th of August. While the transfer window remains open for a while longer, Brighton have already been busy. So, where are we strong, and where do we have gaps?

Goalkeepers

Last season, the goalkeeping position was a tightly contested battle between Melina Loeck and Sophie Baggaley. Despite Baggaley starting the season as the club’s number one—and reportedly attracting interest from Sarina Wiegman for an England call-up—she lost her place to Loeck after a string of strong performances. Baggaley only started against Arsenal due to Loeck picking up an injury in the pre-game warm-up. This season, Loeck has signed a new contract and been loaned to Swedish side Hammarby.

However, this hasn’t cleared the path for Baggaley, as Nigerian international Chiamaka Nnadozie has joined the Seagulls. A regular for Paris FC, Nnadozie is a towering presence at 6ft, a WAFCON winner, and was named best goalkeeper of the tournament. With Champions League experience, she’s likely been signed to be the new number one.

As an aside (and not that it matters much), she would be our highest-rated EAFC 25 (FIFA 25 in old terms) player at 85—Fran Kirby is rated 82.

Nnadozie looks to be an excellent addition, raising the ceiling in terms of quality, while Baggaley offers solid depth in a key position. Hopefully, we’ll see greater clarity in the goalkeeper role this season, with Nnadozie becoming the established starter.

This is without mentioning Hannah Poulter, who remains highly regarded and performed well on loan at Portsmouth last season. We’re currently well-stocked with quality goalkeepers, and Loeck’s loan might suggest Poulter will stay and compete with Baggaley for cup minutes. We shall see!

Defence

As I’ve written previously, our defence will look very different this season. We certainly have the numbers and can field two players in each position—assuming we play a back four, which I suspect Vidosic is leaning towards.

Charlie Rule should provide more competition for Rachel McLauchlan, who will hopefully put her hip injury behind her. Vanegas and Olislagers offer two distinct options at left-back, and we have four strong centre-back choices in Carabali, Hayes, Auee, and Minami. These defenders are versatile too—Olislagers epitomised total football last season, playing in midfield, left-back, left centre-back, wing-back, and even as a winger. When Auee returned, she slotted in at right-back, and Hayes’ heat map against Arsenal showed her as both a target-man-style outlet and a dominant defender.

The big weakness in our backline is the lack of left-footed players, especially at centre-back, which affects our ability to beat the press. Brighton struggled down the left side last season, conceding several goals due to a lack of specialist wing-backs and cohesion.

This issue isn’t unique to us—the Lionesses played most of Euro 2022 without a left-footer in defence and struggled most against Spain, who pressed them onto the left side. Arsenal addressed this by moving Steph Catley from left-back to left centre-back to improve press resistance.We need to improve our build-up play on the left, and a left-footed centre-back should be top of our shopping list. For now, we’ll rely on coaching and tactical tweaks to shore up that weakness.

It’s also hard to predict our first-choice defenders. McLauchlan was a consistent performer last season, so Rule will need strong cup performances or an injury to break into the starting XI. Vanegas seems likely to start due to her pedigree, but Olislagers is more accustomed to the WSL and Vidosic’s style, so she may begin the season at left-back, with appearances further forward later on.

With last season’s most-used centre-back pairing gone, predicting the central defence is tricky. Hayes and Auee offer aerial presence and could partner Carabali or Minami depending on the opposition’s attacking style. If Vidosic sticks with a back three, we may be one centre-back short—unless he plans to use a left-back in that role.

Overall, defence is an area with fewer concerns. We have a good mix of depth and quality, and most players have been signed by the manager himself.

Midfield

Like the defence, our midfield evolved throughout last season due to injuries, formation changes, and our search for the best build-up structure. Losada rarely had a consistent partner.

Right now, our likely starting trio is Symonds at the base, with Noordam and Kirby ahead. These three complement each other well—Symonds is an ideal number six with a relentless engine, solid passing range, and a sharp tackle. Noordam was a smart January addition, offering versatility, energy, and line-breaking passes. And Kirby… well, there’s little left to say! Her presence in the middle will elevate the team and support younger players like Carla Camacho and, hopefully, Rosa Kafija.

Cankovic and Rayner provide attacking midfield depth and can replace Symonds or Noordam against low blocks. Cankovic showed her finishing and spatial awareness against Arsenal—we need to see that consistently.We do have the same left-foot issue in midfield, with all players preferring their right. We also lack depth in holding midfield, unless Vidosic sees Olislagers as a viable backup.

Oddly, despite no new midfield signings (except Libby Bance’s return), this area still feels strong in quality, even if light in numbers.

Forwards

This is the area that probably concerns most Seagulls fans. With Nikita Parris moving to London City Lionesses, Michelle Agyemang and Bruna Vilamala returning to Arsenal and Barcelona respectively, and Pauline Bremer heading to Köln, we’ve lost significant attacking firepower.

Parris leaves the biggest hole, contributing seven WSL goals and assists. The others were mostly used as subs, with Vilamala hampered by injury.

Currently, we have Seike, Haley, and Masaka from last season, with Real Madrid’s Carla Camacho as the new addition. This is light in terms of numbers, and depth could be a concern if injuries mount. Camacho is an exciting prospect, having played extensively in youth tournaments for Spain, but it’s a big ask for her to lead the line in her first WSL season.

We need more attacking reinforcements. A short-term experienced forward would help, especially with Haley being the oldest attacker at 26. This would allow Camacho to develop without undue pressure.

If no new striker arrives, Vidosic may see Camacho and Seike sharing the central role, or use Haley’s physicality as a traditional number nine. Haley will want a stronger season after a disappointing output last year.

Swedish journalist Amanda Zaza and Arseblog News both report that Rosa Kafija is close to signing for Brighton on loan—a quality addition if it happens.

Aisha Masaka is almost like a new signing, having had her first season ruined by injuries. She’s acknowledged it wasn’t a good year, and her perseverance is admirable. If she can stay fit, she could be a breakout talent.

Overall

Brighton have had a strong transfer window so far. The old adage “quality over quantity” feels apt, and it’s telling that we’ve competed with clubs like Everton for experienced internationals.

The club’s backing—paying fees and offering longer-term deals—is impressive. Women’s football often sees frequent moves due to short contracts, but reported three- and four-year deals suggest a shift toward building a longer-term squad. Compare our current squad to three years ago—it’s drastically different, while clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal retain their core.

Last season, we had a large squad but inconsistent availability and a mix of players suited to different systems. This season’s squad feels much more aligned with Vidosic’s vision. We’ve also significantly lowered the average age, losing four players over 30 (Losada, Bergsvand, Thorisdottir, and Parris), with Minami being our oldest new signing at 26. Age isn’t a problem, but good squads blend youth and experience.

In essence, we’re just a couple of quality additions away from having a squad that can regularly challenge to be the best of the rest.