Get the lowdown on our next opponents: Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Opposition
Last season, Brighton & Hove Albion’s academy continued its upward trajectory as one of the most productive youth setups in the Premier League, with the Under-21s impressing in Premier League 2 and the Under-18s showcasing talent despite mixed results in the league and cup.
Ian Buckman’s staff saw several players make the step towards senior football, with Harry Howell the standout story of the campaign. The teenage midfiedler not only earned the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award in December after a hat-trick against Tottenham, but also capped his year by making a first-team debut in the Premier League against Liverpool. Alongside him, the likes of Jack Hinshelwood — already an England U21 international — and Yussif Moro Owusu, who signed his first professional contract in July, underlined the academy’s role in producing top-level players.
Despite some heavy defeats in the U18 Premier League Cup, such as the 4–1 loss to Manchester City despite Shane Nti’s early strike, Brighton still highlighted their attacking potential, with players like Nti and others gaining valuable experience at a higher competitive level. The U21s, meanwhile, built momentum with tournament successes, including their continued presence at the HKFC Soccer Sevens, further enhancing their reputation abroad.
In terms of individuals, Howell’s emergence stole headlines, while mid-season progress from Owusu and consistent first-team integration for Hinshelwood added depth to Brighton’s growing pool of talent. Behind them, a core of younger U18 players, including Nti, showed promise for the next campaign, ensuring a steady pipeline remains in place.
With strong foundations, continued tournament exposure, and a clear philosophy of youth development, Brighton’s academy enters the new season aiming to turn promise into consistent senior breakthroughs.
The Manager
Shannon Ruth
Shannon Ruth has been a key part of the Brighton talent machine, with more than a decade of coaching experience in which he has helped to develop the careers of players such as Ben White, Moises Caicedo, Evan Ferguson, Jack Hinshelwood and Robert Sanchez.
The 33-year old has been the head coach of the Brighton Under-21 side since 2022 following the promotion of Andrew Crofts to the first-team set-up, and his coaching work has been praised by both former boss Roberto de Zerbi and current manager Fabian Hurzeler.
His coaching career began at Chelsea at the age of 18, where he worked with the Under-9 to Under-12 goalkeepers, before holding the role of Head of Goalkeeping at Aldershot Town and Reading, spending four years with the Royals.
In 2018, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion as the lead Academy Goalkeeping Coach, and he has since progressed from assistant roles with the Under-23s to interim Head Coach in 2021, before being appointed Head Coach of the Under-21s in September 2022.
Ruth’s young side were notably thrust into the spotlight in early October 2024 when they beat rivals Crystal Palace 10-0 in a Premier League 2 fixture, and has otherwise guided the Seagulls to the next stage of the competition in each of his three seasons in charge with 6th, 13th and 11th place finishes respectively.
One to Watch
Shane Nti
Shane Nti has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2025/26 campaign, notching four goals already for the Premier League 2 side.
Nti has featured for Brighton’s U18 side regularly, playing in the Premier League Academy U18 competition, and has also made appearances for the Brighton U21s in the Premier League 2.
A versatile, attack-minded midfielder, he has scored six goals in each of the last two seasons, and as of the 2024/25 season, he had a noticeable amount of game time with the U18s that saw him gradually gain exposure to higher-level youth competition.
A positive opening to the new season saw him score a hat-trick in the Seagulls’ 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, contributing an assist for the other goal against the Baggies, and also scored the winner in their opening National League Cup victory against Aldershot Town, and his efforts have been recognised with a nomination for August’s Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.
Photo Credit: Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Recent Form
Arsenal 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Blackburn Rovers 0-4 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 West Bromwich Albion
Aldershot Town 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Crystal Palace 3-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Reading 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Last Time Out
Shannon Ruth’s youngsters suffered defeat in the penultimate minute as they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal in Premier League 2, having done everything but find the net as the game headed towards a stalemate.
One moment of goalkeeping brilliance, a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside and the crossbar all conspired to deny them, and they then suffered a harsh penalty when Sebastian Ferdinand tapped home a low cross at the far post to sentence the Under-21s to their first league defeat of the season.
After a dominant opening half, the pattern of the match continued with the visitors counting themselves unlucky not to have taken a lead in the 58th-minute when Shane Nti converted from just inside the area from Charlie Tasker’s low cross only for the assistant’s flag to rule out the strike.
Arsenal then managed to find a way through in the dying stages – Charles Sagoe drilling in a low centre from the left that Ferdinand finished.
Photo Credit: Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
