Rhineland to Sussex | Tracking the Rapid Rise of Brajan Gruda
Straddling the Rhine River and a focal point in one of Europe’s greatest wine-producing regions, the Rheinhessen, Mainz has been part of Germany’s story since it was founded as Mogontiacum in the final years before the birth of Christ.
Growing from a Roman military castrum that helped defend the empire’s border from Germanic tribes as the administrative capital of Germania Superior, before developing into a center of Christianity in central Europe while also boasting one of the most influential Jewish communities in western Europe, Mainz has certainly had a say in Germany’s national epic. But in footballing terms, its influence has paled in comparison.
Though Mainz 05 (1. Fußball-und Sport-Verein Mainz 05 e.V. for the football nerds among us) has given the beautiful game the managerial stories of Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, and footballing talents the likes of Jonathan Burkhardt, Ridle Baku, Manuel Friedrich, André Schürrle, and young star Leandro Barreiro, Die Nullfünfer can hardly be viewed as a giant of the domestic game either in terms of silverware earned, or as an influential player development hub.
That could all be about to change, however, owing to the rapid rise of gifted Germany youth international Brajan Gruda.
Ferdi Kadıoğlu: The Inverted Fullback on an Unusual Path to the Top
Born and bred just an hour south down the A61 in Speyer, Gruda arrived at MEWA Arena in 2018 at the age of fourteen after spells with local outfit FV Speyer and Karlsruher SC. Rising through the ranks at club level and receiving youth international caps in recognition of his burgeoning talent all along the way, Gruda finally broke into the senior setup under former manager Bo Svensson during the Winterpause amidst the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign.
After a handful of appearances for Karnevalsverein before the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Gruda, who would go on to be awared the Fritz Walter Medal (Silver) in September 2023, would fully crack the starting XI on matchday three last term during a 4-0 loss at Werder Bremen.
A first senior goal would soon follow for the then nineteen-year-old in a 2-2 draw at Gladbach’s Borussia-Park, with a first senior assist just a week later at home to Bayern Munich during a 3-1 loss.
It was during that credible ninety-minute performance against the Bavarian giants which saw Gruda truly begin to standout among his contemporaries after Thomas Müller sung his praises via his personal Twitter account as well as swapping shirts with the tricky attacking midfielder.
Müller would go on to back the player further still during a national team press conference when Gruda was called into Julian Nagelsmann’s preliminary Germany camp in the run-up to Euro2024, stating “When you watch him, you see that he has something special. It’s about consistency for him now. That’s why I got his jersey back then and made it public. I thought he was remarkably good.”
After a credible season that saw the attacking starlet hit four goals and three assists while being credited as a key factor in Mainz avoiding relegation to the 2.Bundesliga, interest in Gruda skyrocketed, with both the aforementioned Bayern Munich as well as sitting champions Bayer Leverkusen being linked with serious interest during the summer transfer window.
However, in what surprised many, it wasn’t a Bundesliga stay that appealed to Gruda most, but a chance to jump across the Channel to land on English shores at Brighton & Hove Albion under gifted young manager Fabian Hürzeler, who is “really pleased to get the opportunity to work with Brajan.”
Hürzeler, a 31-year-old Texas-born former Germany youth international who seemingly has the world at his fingertips as a managerial prodigy who did brilliantly to guide FC St.Pauli back to the top flight of German football for the first time in nearly fifteen years, has headed up heavy attacking recruitment at the Amex this summer. Still, a chance to bring Gruda into the fold on the south coast was too good of a chance to pass on.
Fabian Hürzeler: The Youngest Manager in Premier League History
“I saw the big impact he made last season in the Bundesliga and he’s a player I admire a lot. The Premier League will be a different challenge but I’m looking forward to working with Brajan and helping to develop his big potential.”
Club technical director David Weir echoed those sentiments; “We’re delighted to bring Brajan to the club. He’s a player we have been tracking for a while and he’s already played at a really good level in the Bundesliga. He is a player Fabian knows well and is really looking forward to working with.”
On the surface, Gruda brings everything you would want and need in a versatile attacking option who is capable of being deployed both on the right flank as well as a second-striker/number 10 behind the leading man.
Per The Athletic, the data on the twenty-year-old is encouraging, including showing Gruda to be a player who can put the attack on his back at times with his fantastic ability at driving play when on the ball and resides in the company of Jérémy Doku, Ousmane Dembélé, Mohamed Kudus, and Jamal Musiala.
But perhaps even more encouraging is the fact that Gruda is a menace out of possession in a pressing system, which could potentially be even more influential under Hürzeler than his qualities on the ball.
The deal for Gruda certainly raised a few eyebrows considering how many attacking signings the Seagulls have brought in this summer, with the U21 international joining the arrivals section alongside Ibrahim Osman, Yankuba Minteh, and Amario Cozier-Duberry, who have now been added to the depth chart with Kaoru Mitoma, Jeremy Sarmiento, Simon Adingra, Julio Enciso, and an injured Solly March.
Despite failing to feature in either matchday squad that ran out winners against Everton (3-0) and Manchester United (2-1) with the likes of Mitoma, Adingra, and Minteh all playing a role in said results, it is still too early to rule out the budding attacker breaking down a potential barrier to minutes this season.
Given the fact that Ghanaian international winger Ibrahim Osman was sent out on loan to Dutch giants Feyenoord despite his own arrival this summer from FC Nordsjælland, the fact that Gruda remains at the club could offer evidence that Hürzeler intends to bring the player along under his watchful eye in a bid to work him into his plans sooner rather than later.
With evidence supporting how efficient and effective Gruda is from both out wide and also in central spaces in a number ten role, it is conceivable to suggest that his immediate future at the club could see him slot in behind the number 9 and in place of the man who currently occupies that place in the XI, Brazilian striker João Pedro.
Malick Yalcouyé: The Malian Wonderkid Who Is Taking Sweden by Storm
But perhaps his former Mainz manager Bo Hendrikson summed it up best on what Hürzeler has seen, and what Brighton supporters could be in line to celebrate during the current 2023-24 Premier League season; “I love that kid. He plays by his feelings. Of course, he still has a lot to learn, but you can see what he can do with the ball one-on-one. It’s difficult for anybody to defend against him. I see a bright future for him because he is an incredible footballer.”
Providing that Gruda adapts to life in the Premier League well, the prospect of Brighton capable of fielding an attacking quartet that features three danger-men when on the ball in the vein of Mitoma, Gruda, and Adingra/Minteh, the Seagulls certainly could be in with a chance of once again pushing for the European places after a disappointing 2023-24.
By: Andrew Thompson / @GeecheeKid
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Kevin Voigt / Getty Images