Pascal Struijk

Struijk brings a left footed passing angle most defensive lines lack, splitting play in a different direction than a right footed centre back would and giving Brighton a fresh option when possession needs to switch sides quickly. In the air he is dangerous at both ends, defending crosses into his own box with authority before becoming a genuine set piece threat himself. He has also filled a deeper midfield role, adding shape and passing options in front of the back line when asked.

His path here included an early setback, released by a major academy before rebuilding his career and becoming a first team regular through determination as much as raw talent. That kind of resilience does not disappear once a player reaches a new club. Whether that adaptability lets him settle quickly into a new defensive partnership is the next test in a career that has already overcome one.