Premier League manager commits future to club amid interest top Bundesliga club

Fabian Hurzeler has signed a new three-year deal with Brighton, the club have confirmed.

The Seagulls boss has committed his future at the Amex through until the summer of 2029.

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Hurzeler’s previous deal had been due to expire at the end of next season, prompting speculation over his future.

Having impressed since his appointment in 2024, the German has drawn interest from Bayer Leverkusen more recently.

This came after it was rumoured the Bundesliga outfit could be on the hunt for a new manager in the summer after a poor run of form under current boss Kasper Hjulmand.

But Hurzeler has now put an end to these links by committing his future to Brighton.

Hurzeler signs new deal

With his new deal confirmed, the 33-year-old told the club’s media channels: “I absolutely love working for this club and living in the city and I am delighted to have agreed a new contract.

“To have this long-term commitment from the club is an honour, and one which only reinforces my desire to succeed in delivering on our shared long-term vision.

“From the beginning our focus has always been on forging an identity, developing the team, challenging the establishment and pushing our standards every day.

“I’m proud of what we have done so far, and even more excited about what is still to come.”

Following an eighth place finish last season, Brighton are again on course for a top half finish.

The Seagulls are eighth in the Premier League table with three games remaining, and are just two points behind sixth-place Bournemouth as they target European qualification for just the second time in the club’s history.

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Even after a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle last weekend, this remains a strong possibility for Brighton.

An eighth place finish will be enough to qualify for the Conference League if Manchester City win the FA Cup.

Hurzeler was named Brighton boss ahead of last season at the age of just 31, making him the youngest ever full-time boss of a Premier League team.

He arrived to replace Roberto De Zerbi, who left at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and has since become Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach.

While the Seagulls finished eighth in Hurzeler’s first season in charge, this wasn’t enough to qualify for Europe due to rivals Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph.

Brighton’s only previous European campaign came in the 2023/24 Europa League, after they finished sixth under De Zerbi the season before.

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This was the club’s highest ever top-flight finish, which Hurzeler’s side can still match this term with nine points left to play for.

Fabian Hurzeler: The backstory

Before his appointment at the Amex, Hurzeler made a name for himself in his native Germany.

He worked as the assistant manager for Germany’s Under-18 and Under-20 sides.

After four years at German amateur side FC Pipinsried, Hurzeler became St Pauli’s assistant in 2020, before taking over in December 2022 following Timo Schultz’s dismissal.

He took charge with the club in danger of relegation to the German third-tier, before guiding them to a fifth-placed finish after winning his opening ten matches.

And he capped a remarkable 18 months by masterminding St Pauli’s return to the top-flight after a 13-year absence by winning the 2. Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 campaign.