where are they now Brighton’s Promotion XI

On 17 April 2017, Brighton were promoted to the Premier League as they beat Wigan 2–1, while fellow promotion rivals Huddersfield drew against Derby. This was a first in the Premier League and ended a 34-year absence from the top flight. They are now entering their 8th season in the Premier League.

The question is, what happened to the starting XI against Wigan?

David Stockdale – Goalkeeper

Stockdale left the club in July 2017, joining Birmingham, who again sent him out on loan to Southend United, Wycombe, Coventry and Wycombe between 2018–20. He then joined Wycombe on a free transfer in September 2020. Then, in February of the following year, he completed a 14-day loan deal at Stevenage, who needed emergency cover. He joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer in July 2022, York City in July 2023 and has now been without a club since 22 April 2024.

Bruno Saltor – right back

The Brighton captain retired in July 2019 having played 235 games for the Seagulls. He continued on the South Coast, working behind the scenes until 2022 when he followed Graham Potter to Stamford Bridge. He took charge of the London side after Potter’s departure, drawing 0-0 at Liverpool as interim head coach. Since then he has also left the club.

Uwe Hunemeier – Central defender

The German centre-back left the club in 2018 for SC Paderborn and retired there in 2023. He is now assistant manager at the club for a year, finishing 7th in the 2. Bundesliga.

Lewis Dunk – Center back

Dunk remains at the club, holding the captaincy since Bruno left in 2019 and playing for the first team for 14 years and more. More recently, he was part of England’s EURO 2024 squad, which finished second behind Spain.

Gaetan Bong – left back

Bong left the club in January 2020 after 4 1/2 years on the south coast, moving to Nottingham Forest and then shortly retiring 1 1/2 years later.

Anthony Knockaert – Right midfielder

The Albion legend left the club in July 2020 to join newly promoted Premier League side Fulham. A few months later, he was loaned out to join Bong at Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the season. In the 22/23 season, he was loaned to Volos NPS (Super League Greece) until January, then found himself at Huddersfield for the rest of the season. For the 23/24 season, he played at Valenciennes FC after a free transfer in September and has since recently retired.

Dale Stephens – Midfielder

The midfielder joined Burnley in September 2020 after 6 and a half seasons at the club, then was without a club 2 years later and retired in March last year.

Beram Kayal- Midfielder

The Israeli footballer left the club at the end of the 19/20 season, then joined Israel Premier League side Bnei Sakhnin and has been there ever since.

Solly March – Left midfielder

The Englishman remains at the club, having enjoyed a remarkable spell under former manager De Zerbi before his injury and re-emerging as a key player 11 years after making his first-team debut with Albion.

Glenn Murray – Striker

The former Seagulls main man left the club in February 2021 to join both Bong and Knockaert permanently at Nottingham Forest. However, he retired 5 months later and has since become an ambassador for the club.

Tomer Hemed- Striker

For the 18/19 season, Hemed was loaned to QPR, and in August 2019 he moved permanently to Charlton Athletic FC. By November of the following year, he was with Australian side Wellington before moving to Western Sydney the following season. He returned to his home country the following season with H. Beer Sheva, then Maccabi Haifa in January 2024. Now, he is without a club.

Chris Hughton- Manager

The manager who led Brighton to promotion was sacked two years later due to 3 wins in 23 and just 2 points away from relegation. He became Nottingham Forest manager in October 2020, lasting until September 2021, before being sacked again after a poor start to the season.

His next job was Ghana’s technical assistant, which lasted from February 2022 to February 2023, at which point he became Ghana’s manager for almost a year before being sacked following an AFCON group stage exit .

Conclusion

To conclude, 6 of the XI have withdrawn, 2 have no club, 2 are STILL at club and 1 is at another club. The manager has no job.