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Danny Welbeck: Aging like a fine Malbec at Brighton

Danny Welbeck: Aging like a fine Malbec at Brighton

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Since returning to the English top-flight in 2016 after a 34-year drought, Brighton & Hove Albion have gained worldwide acclaim thanks to their ability to spot promising youngsters like Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, develop them into Premier League-caliber stars, and sell them for lucrative fees. But it is only thanks to their propensity to balance these raw talents with seasoned veterans that Brighton have remained a comfortable top-half / midtable side and steered clear of relegation battles.

By Zach Lowy

From Joël Veltman to James Milner, the Seagulls have made a point of signing battle-hardened professionals and placing them in leadership positions. Today, Brighton’s most important veteran leader is none other than Danny Welbeck.

Born in Manchester to Ghanaian parents, Welbeck spent 13 years at Manchester United and won the 2012/13 Premier League title before making the move to Arsenal in 2014, where he lifted two League Cups before joining Watford in 2019. But after failing to avoid the drop, Welbeck joined Brighton on a free transfer in 2020, penning a one-year deal. It didn’t take long for him to establish himself as a crucial figure in attack, setting the standard with his relentless pressing, shrewd link-up play, and incisive runs into the box, and elevating Brighton from 16th in his first season to their Premier League finish of ninth in his second season. He did even better in 2022/23, leading Brighton to a sixth-place finish and a maiden European qualification.

Welbeck’s season summary at Brighton

However, it wasn’t until the arrival of German manager Fabian Hürzeler in 2024 that Welbeck’s goal-scoring production managed to skyrocket. After scoring six goals and three assists, six goals and two assists, seven goals and four assists, and seven goals and three assists in his first four seasons in East Sussex, Welbeck hit double figures for the first time in seven years with 11 goals and four assists in 36 appearances in 2024/25. As he approaches 35 years of age, Welbeck finds himself in the form of his life with six goals and one assist in 13 appearances this season, and he is on track to surpass his best-ever career tally, when he scored 12 goals and 5 assists in 39 appearances in 2011/12.

“My expectations with Welbeck were ‘wait and see’…they weren’t that high, but I tend to have trust in the recruitment and I thought he could be good for a season or two,” stated The Argus’ Brian Owen. “He has obviously exceeded expectations – including his own – and been an excellent free signing for Brighton. When I asked him whether he expected to be here for six years after he signed, he just laughed. He has missed chances and some have been costly, but he has emerged almost as the captain of the offensive unit and produced some exquisite finishes. Like all players, there are bigger demands in terms of running and working off the ball. Welbeck is not exempt from the harder work. In fact, Hürzeler needs him to work the hardest to show the younger players that if he can do it, there is no reason why they shouldn’t…he’s had to take on an even bigger role as a leader ever since Adam Lallana and Pascal Groß left in 2024.”

After failing to score in his first six matches, many Brighton fans demanded that Welbeck be phased out of the line-up in order for Greek teenagers Charalampos Kostoulas and Stefanos Tzimas – for whom Brighton had recently splurged over €60m – to be given a chance. Welbeck quickly made them eat their words by bagging braces against Chelsea and Newcastle and scoring a free kick at Manchester United, which saw him become Brighton’s all-time leading scorer in the English top division with 38 goals, before blanking in an EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal and breaking the deadlock in a 3-0 win vs. Leeds. And whilst he was kept under wraps in Sunday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace, he nevertheless kept things tidy on and off the ball, making 4 clearances, winning 4 duels, and completing 13 out of 14 passes (the most accurate passer to play 45+ minutes).

“Go back two years, and the expectations would have been for Evan Ferguson to be Brighton’s regular No. 9 by now – Welbeck is starting because Ferguson did not progress as expected,” added Owen. “He’s been delivering week after week, month after month, with some very good finishes but also some unselfish team play. He’s leading the press, dropping deep and helping teammates into space, and it sounds like he is a great influence off the pitch. My biggest reservation is probably that Brighton still relies so heavily on him.”

 Alongside Diego Gómez (2), Welbeck (6) is the only Brighton player who has scored more than one goal this season, and following João Pedro’s exit to Chelsea, he’s been tasked with even more responsibility in attack. Even if he isn’t finding the back of the net, he’s constantly making his presence known with his slick hold-up play, intense pressing and defensive work rate, and intelligent decision-making. And whilst Ferguson is struggling to get his career back on track in Rome, and whilst Kostoulas and Tzimas are both coming to terms with their new surroundings, Welbeck is aging like a fine Malbec.

Fabian Hürzeler was 15 years old when Danny Welbeck made his senior competitive debut for Manchester United. Since then, Welbeck has represented an additional five English clubs and registered 16 goals in 42 caps with the English national team – the last coming in September 2018 – in addition to playing in two European Championships and one World Cup. Despite scoring more goals than any other Englishman in the Premier League this season, it appears that Welbeck’s adventure with the Three Lions is in the rearview mirror, but as long as Hürzeler is in charge, expect Welbeck to continue banging in the goals and leading Brighton to success.

Welbeck will be looking to lead Brighton to a third straight home win on 22 November against Brentford before making the 500th senior appearance of his club career at Nottingham Forest on 30 November.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the every Brighton game with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Danny Welbeck: Aging like a fine Malbec at Brighton

Since returning to the English top-flight in 2016 after a 34-year drought, Brighton & Hove Albion have gained worldwide acclaim thanks to their ability to spot promising youngsters like Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, develop them into Premier League-caliber stars, and sell them for lucrative fees. But it is only thanks to their propensity to balance these raw talents with seasoned veterans that Brighton have remained a comfortable top-half / midtable side and steered clear of relegation battles.

By Zach Lowy

From Joël Veltman to James Milner, the Seagulls have made a point of signing battle-hardened professionals and placing them in leadership positions. Today, Brighton’s most important veteran leader is none other than Danny Welbeck.

Born in Manchester to Ghanaian parents, Welbeck spent 13 years at Manchester United and won the 2012/13 Premier League title before making the move to Arsenal in 2014, where he lifted two League Cups before joining Watford in 2019. But after failing to avoid the drop, Welbeck joined Brighton on a free transfer in 2020, penning a one-year deal. It didn’t take long for him to establish himself as a crucial figure in attack, setting the standard with his relentless pressing, shrewd link-up play, and incisive runs into the box, and elevating Brighton from 16th in his first season to their Premier League finish of ninth in his second season. He did even better in 2022/23, leading Brighton to a sixth-place finish and a maiden European qualification.

Welbeck’s season summary at Brighton

However, it wasn’t until the arrival of German manager Fabian Hürzeler in 2024 that Welbeck’s goal-scoring production managed to skyrocket. After scoring six goals and three assists, six goals and two assists, seven goals and four assists, and seven goals and three assists in his first four seasons in East Sussex, Welbeck hit double figures for the first time in seven years with 11 goals and four assists in 36 appearances in 2024/25. As he approaches 35 years of age, Welbeck finds himself in the form of his life with six goals and one assist in 13 appearances this season, and he is on track to surpass his best-ever career tally, when he scored 12 goals and 5 assists in 39 appearances in 2011/12.

“My expectations with Welbeck were ‘wait and see’…they weren’t that high, but I tend to have trust in the recruitment and I thought he could be good for a season or two,” stated The Argus’ Brian Owen. “He has obviously exceeded expectations – including his own – and been an excellent free signing for Brighton. When I asked him whether he expected to be here for six years after he signed, he just laughed. He has missed chances and some have been costly, but he has emerged almost as the captain of the offensive unit and produced some exquisite finishes. Like all players, there are bigger demands in terms of running and working off the ball. Welbeck is not exempt from the harder work. In fact, Hürzeler needs him to work the hardest to show the younger players that if he can do it, there is no reason why they shouldn’t…he’s had to take on an even bigger role as a leader ever since Adam Lallana and Pascal Groß left in 2024.”

After failing to score in his first six matches, many Brighton fans demanded that Welbeck be phased out of the line-up in order for Greek teenagers Charalampos Kostoulas and Stefanos Tzimas – for whom Brighton had recently splurged over €60m – to be given a chance. Welbeck quickly made them eat their words by bagging braces against Chelsea and Newcastle and scoring a free kick at Manchester United, which saw him become Brighton’s all-time leading scorer in the English top division with 38 goals, before blanking in an EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal and breaking the deadlock in a 3-0 win vs. Leeds. And whilst he was kept under wraps in Sunday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace, he nevertheless kept things tidy on and off the ball, making 4 clearances, winning 4 duels, and completing 13 out of 14 passes (the most accurate passer to play 45+ minutes).

“Go back two years, and the expectations would have been for Evan Ferguson to be Brighton’s regular No. 9 by now – Welbeck is starting because Ferguson did not progress as expected,” added Owen. “He’s been delivering week after week, month after month, with some very good finishes but also some unselfish team play. He’s leading the press, dropping deep and helping teammates into space, and it sounds like he is a great influence off the pitch. My biggest reservation is probably that Brighton still relies so heavily on him.”

 Alongside Diego Gómez (2), Welbeck (6) is the only Brighton player who has scored more than one goal this season, and following João Pedro’s exit to Chelsea, he’s been tasked with even more responsibility in attack. Even if he isn’t finding the back of the net, he’s constantly making his presence known with his slick hold-up play, intense pressing and defensive work rate, and intelligent decision-making. And whilst Ferguson is struggling to get his career back on track in Rome, and whilst Kostoulas and Tzimas are both coming to terms with their new surroundings, Welbeck is aging like a fine Malbec.

Fabian Hürzeler was 15 years old when Danny Welbeck made his senior competitive debut for Manchester United. Since then, Welbeck has represented an additional five English clubs and registered 16 goals in 42 caps with the English national team – the last coming in September 2018 – in addition to playing in two European Championships and one World Cup. Despite scoring more goals than any other Englishman in the Premier League this season, it appears that Welbeck’s adventure with the Three Lions is in the rearview mirror, but as long as Hürzeler is in charge, expect Welbeck to continue banging in the goals and leading Brighton to success.

Welbeck will be looking to lead Brighton to a third straight home win on 22 November against Brentford before making the 500th senior appearance of his club career at Nottingham Forest on 30 November.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the every Brighton game with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.