There is a particular satisfaction in watching a footballer transform from an intriguing signing into an indispensable part of a team. At Brighton & Hove Albion, Maxim De Cuyper is beginning to do exactly that. When the Belgian arrived from Club Brugge in the summer of 2025, he brought a reputation as an attacking-minded full-back capable of delivering quality in the final third. His first Premier League campaign offered glimpses of that potential, with two goals and three assists in 30 appearances. However, the opening weeks of the 2026/27 season have suggested that De Cuyper is ready to take on a much greater responsibility in Fabian Hurzeler's absence. 

Seven Premier League appearances into the campaign, De Cuyper has already matched his previous season’s goal tally and equaled his assist total. With two goals and two assists, the 25-year-old has established himself as a genuine source of attacking production from Brighton’s left side. His contribution has arrived during a promising start for the Seagulls, whose performances against Aston Villa, Coventry City, and Arsenal have demonstrated their capacity to overwhelm opponents. De Cuyper has clearly adapted to English football; now the only question is how far his influence can extend into Brighton’s system. 

From Belgium to the Premier League

De Cuyper’s development did not begin on the south coast of England. At Club Brugge, he established himself as a productive attacking defender, recording six goals and fifteen assists across his league appearances for the Belgian side. Those numbers reflected a player comfortable operating high up the pitch, combining overlapping runs with the ability to deliver dangerous balls into the penalty area. Brighton’s recruitment model has repeatedly targeted footballers whose technical qualities and potential offer scope for further development. De Cuyper fits that profile. His arrival represented an investment in a left-back who could contribute to the build-up while providing an additional attacking dimension. 

His first season was a period of adaptation. The Premier League demands greater speed in decision-making, more physical resistance, and a heightened awareness of the space's opponents look to exploit. For an attack-minded full-back, those challenges are particularly pronounced. Every forward run creates a potential opportunity but also leaves space to defend if possession is lost. The early stages of his Brighton career provided a foundation, while this season has built on that foundation with tangible results. 

The evolution of Brighton's left flank

De Cuyper’s rise is particularly interesting because of the different ways Brighton can utilize him. A conventional full back is often judged by the balance between defensive reliability and attacking output. Yet the modern game increasingly asks players in these positions to perform several functions within the same match. They must provide width, support possession, combine with midfielders, and recognize when to move into more advanced positions. De Cuyper’s technical background makes him suited to that responsibility. His ability to progress forward and contribute around the penalty area gives Brighton another route through which to create chances, rather than placing the entire burden of attacking progression on their wingers and central midfielders. His early season production illustrated the value of that versatility. He scored in Brighton’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa on opening weekend before adding another goal in the 2-0 win away to Sunderland. He also supplied assists against Leeds United and Coventry City. 

Four goal involvements in seven league appearances is a substantial return. More importantly, those contributions have come across different types of matches, suggesting his influence isn't confined to one opponent or game state. 

An injury problem becomes an opportunity

One of the defining features of De Cuyper’s season has been the circumstances surrounding his increased attacking responsibility. Brighton have had to manage injuries to important wide players, including Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh. That has created opportunities for De Cuyper to operate further forward, demonstrating that his usefulness extends beyond the traditional responsibilities of a left-back.

The distinction matters. Rather than merely providing cover for an absent teammate, De Cuyper offers Hürzeler a player who can occupy different positions without necessarily requiring a complete change in personnel or approach. His adaptability can help Brighton maintain their attacking width and create different combinations on the flanks. When deployed higher up the pitch, he can focus more heavily on his crossing, movement, and ability to arrive in dangerous areas. When operating from defense, he can build attacks from deeper positions and offer an overlapping option.

There is, of course, a trade-off. Moving a full-back forward can alter the team's defensive structure, particularly when possession is lost. Brighton must ensure that the players behind him are positioned to cover the space he vacates. His long-term effectiveness will therefore depend not only on individual attacking output but also on how successfully the team balances his freedom with its defensive responsibilities. Nevertheless, his emergence as a flexible option gives Hürzeler an additional tactical tool during a demanding season.

Brighton's next development project?

Brighton have built a reputation for identifying players before their value and reputation reach their peak. De Cuyper’s development offers another example of how that recruitment philosophy can extend beyond simply signing young prospects and hoping they improve.

The Belgian arrived with a clear set of strengths. His current performances suggest Brighton are finding increasingly effective ways to use them. At 25, he is not an inexperienced teenager making his first steps in senior football. He has already played significant minutes in Belgium and completed a full season in England. The opportunity now is to turn that experience into consistency and become one of the players around whom Brighton can build their tactical plans. His rise also reflects a broader feature of Hürzeler’s Brighton: versatility can be just as valuable as specialization. In a squad where injuries, fixture congestion and tactical adjustments are inevitable, a player capable of performing several roles can provide value that extends beyond the traditional statistics associated with his position.

De Cuyper has made an excellent start, but the more significant development may be the range of possibilities his performances have opened up for his manager. Brighton did not recruit him simply to score goals from left-back. They recruited a player whose attacking instincts could strengthen their wider system. A season into his Premier League career, that investment is beginning to look increasingly promising. The next step is to prove that the opening weeks are a foundation rather than an exception. If De Cuyper can maintain his attacking threat while continuing to develop the defensive side of his game, Brighton may have found something more valuable than an in-form full-back: a versatile player capable of changing the way they attack.