Brighton and Hove Albion’s summer signing Maxim De Cuyper has admitted he didn’t expect to be first-choice at left-back this season.
The 24-year-old Belgian defender joined the Seagulls from Club Brugge in a €20 million deal after impressing in the Champions League. Initially, he was brought in as competition for Pervis Estupiñán, but things changed quickly when the Ecuadorian departed for AC Milan just 19 days after De Cuyper’s arrival.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
That sudden switch left De Cuyper as Brighton’s first-choice under Fabian Hürzeler a role he hadn’t anticipated.
“I didn’t expect to start the season anyway. When I arrived here, there were still quite a few full-backs. Two weeks before the start of the season, I became the number one left-back. I thought: ‘Hey, maybe it’s really possible,’” he told Het Laatste Nieuws.
The Belgian has adapted well, even scoring his first Premier League goal in Brighton’s 3-1 win over Chelsea last weekend. Still, he insists his performances will be judged on defending rather than attacking contributions.
“I don’t think they’ll judge me on that. I’m still a defender. If they judge me on defensive mistakes, I understand that,” he added.
For De Cuyper, the move to England has been a big step. Having spent his career in Belgium with Club Brugge and Westerlo, he’s now adjusting to the higher pace and intensity of the Premier League.
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“The training sessions were at an intensity I wasn’t used to. They just kept going on and on,” he admitted.
Despite the challenges, De Cuyper’s rapid rise has already made him a key figure in Brighton’s early-season campaign and a player fans will be eager to see grow further.