Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross may rank among the Premier League’s smartest signings.
The 35‑year‑old has netted a net cost of minus £3 million and featured in 86 PL goals across two spells.
This season alone he has touched seven Brighton goals in just six matches.
His latest was the opener in a 2‑0 win at Sunderland, a slide‑rule pass to Maxim de Cuyper for the finish.
Gross became the oldest player to record assists in three consecutive PL games since 38‑year‑old Ryan Giggs did it for United in Feb 2012.
Only Bruno Fernandes and Dominik Szoboszlai have created more chances than the German in 2026.
Brighton paid around £3 million for Gross from Ingolstadt as their first PL signing in 2017.
He departed for Borussia Dortmund in 2024 for £8 million, then shockingly re‑joined the Seagulls in Jan for roughly £1.7 million.
The question remains whether Gross has been underrated all this time.
Former England midfielder and BBC pundit Danny Murphy disagrees.
“The Premier League is broadcast worldwide, and he’s been part of that narrative while Brighton shines,” he said.
“You don’t need a big‑six club to earn Premier League respect. Gross isn’t hidden; everyone knows his quality,” Murphy added.
How big an impact has Gross had?
A little‑heralded German from relegated Ingolstadt, few could have foreseen the impact he and Brighton would have.
“There’s a case that Gross is pound‑for‑pound the best value player in the league over the past decade, especially when you tally his goal involvements,” BBC Radio Sussex’s Johnny Cantor argued.
“He also drives standards in training, sets a high bar and is a huge influence in the dressing room.” For my money, Gross is the league’s best bargain.
Technically superb, with excellent delivery and uncanny spatial awareness, he pops up all over the pitch. Managers rely on him, teammates respect him, and fans of every generation adore him.
He will surely be remembered as one of Brighton’s modern‑era greats.
Since arriving, Gross sits seventh on the PL assists list with 52, alongside 34 goals in 253 league appearances.
Remarkable, considering his Brighton journey began over two years ago before a brief homecoming to Dortmund.
Albion supporter Maz Mirzadeh likened his Dortmund exit to a heartbreak, like an ex returning to a childhood sweetheart.
“He’s outrageously good and massively underappreciated,” Mirzadeh said.
“Watching him feels like slow‑motion; lacking pace, he compensates with superior IQ, technical brilliance and relentless work rate,” the fan added.
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Gross logged 66 appearances for Dortmund, scoring once and assisting 17, before returning to Brighton on 2 January 2026.
Aged 34 then, many wondered if it was a romantic swansong.
“Some feared he couldn’t recapture his first‑spell impact, but that notion has already been dispelled,” Cantor noted.
Only Chelsea’s Joao Pedro tops Gross’s goal contributions this season, with five goals and three assists versus Gross’s three and four.
The midfielder – who retired from internationals after the World Cup – has also featured every minute for Brighton in all competitions, nine games so far.
Former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Murphy said: “He’s an intelligent footballer with a great football IQ.
“You can see he’s grown into that version of himself over the years. That happens in football – it happened to me – when you know what you can’t do as much as what you can,” he explained.
“So you don’t see him trying to outrun opponents. Instead he favours a little chop or a Cruyff turn to create space, or a quick first‑time pass around the corners. That’s why he’s always in space,” Murphy added.
“His versatility reflects his intelligence. He can slot in at full‑back, central midfield or, lately, as a number 10, scoring and creating goals,” Murphy continued.
“I’m sure this won’t be his last season with Brighton, but even if it is, supporters will already regard him as a Brighton great for what he’s given, especially after his return. It’s nothing short of remarkable,” he concluded.
This form saw Gross become the sixth‑oldest player ever named Premier League Player of the Month, for September.
Seagulls fan Mirzadeh added: “Even in his ‘unc’ era, he’s showing the league’s elite how it’s done.
“If he were called Pascal Silva and played for a top‑six club, he might finally receive the recognition he truly deserves,” he mused.
A version of this feature was published on 2 October 2026.