Pascal Gross: Brighton Midfielder's Impact Questioned

Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross has been named the Premier League's Player of the Month for September, prompting a closer look at his impact at the club over his two spells. Since joining Brighton in 2017 for a reported £3 million from Ingolstadt, Gross has been involved in 86 Premier League goals for the Seagulls.

In the current campaign, Gross has contributed to seven Brighton goals in six games. His recent assist in the 2-0 win against Sunderland provided the opening goal for teammate Maxim de Cuyper. This made Gross the oldest player to provide an assist in three consecutive Premier League matches since Ryan Giggs in February 2012.

Over the past two seasons, only Bruno Fernandes and Dominik Szoboszlai have created more chances than the German midfielder, a statistic that includes an 18-month period when he was not in the Premier League.

Gross's initial departure from Brighton in 2024 to his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund for £8 million was followed by a return to Brighton in January for approximately £1.7 million. This unexpected move has led to discussions about whether his contributions have been historically underrated.

"There's an argument Gross is pound-for-pound the best value player in the Premier League over the last 10 years, especially when you look at his goal involvements," said BBC Radio Sussex commentator Johnny Cantor. "However, he also drives standards in training, sets a high bar and is a huge influence in the dressing room. Technically he is excellent, has superb delivery but also possesses an awareness, popping up in spaces all around the pitch. Managers have leaned on him, team-mates respect him, and fans of all generations adore him. He will surely be remembered as one of the best Albion players of the modern age."

Since his arrival at Brighton, Gross has recorded 52 Premier League assists and 34 goals in 253 league appearances. His return to Brighton in January 2026, at the age of 34, was initially viewed by some as a sentimental career move. However, his current form has dispelled any doubts.

In the current top-flight season, only Chelsea's Joao Pedro has better goal contributions than Gross. Pedro has five goals and three assists, while Gross has three goals and four assists. Gross has also played every minute for Brighton in all competitions this season, totaling nine games.

Former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy commented on Gross's intelligence on the field. "He's an intelligent footballer, with a great football IQ. You can see that he has grown into that version of himself over the years. That happens in football - it happened to me - when you know what you can't do, as much as you know what you can do. So, you don't see him trying to beat people on the outside with his pace. Instead he loves a little chop, or a Cruyff turn to give himself space and time, or to play a quick first-time pass around the corners. That's why he always seems to be in space. His versatility tells you about his intelligence as well. He is able to play as a full-back, central midfield or, recently, as more of a 10. He is scoring and making goals. I am sure this won't be his last season with Brighton but, even if it was, he is already going to be remembered as one of the Brighton greats by their supporters for what he has given so far to the club, especially with him coming back and doing what he is doing. It is nothing short of remarkable."

Brighton supporter Maz Mirzadeh noted, "He's outrageously good and massively underappreciated. If you watch him play, you would think someone's put him in slow-motion settings, but what he lacks in pace, he makes up in superior football IQ, technical brilliance and working harder than any other player on the pitch."