Gabby George Set for Brighton Move as Seagulls Strengthen WSL Ambitions
Gabby George is on the brink of swapping Manchester red for the south-coast stripes, with the Manchester United defender closing in on a move to Brighton ahead of the new Women’s Super League season.
The 29-year-old has a year left on her United deal after the club triggered an option in January, a decision that now forces Brighton to put real money on the table. The Seagulls are expected to pay a six-figure fee for a player who offers both versatility and experience across the back line.
This is not a case of a fringe player drifting out quietly. George joined United in 2023 and has gone past the 50-appearance mark during her three-year stay, playing her part in the squad that lifted the Women’s FA Cup in 2024. She knows what it takes to compete at the sharp end of the English game, and she wants more than a supporting role.
Regular minutes are at the heart of the move. George is understood to be pushing for consistent game time, something that has not always been guaranteed at United. Brighton, building with purpose under Dario Vidosic, can offer a different proposition: a key role in a side trying to break out of mid-table and into the league’s upper tier.
Her journey to this point has been anything but rushed. A graduate of Everton’s academy, George played over 100 games for the Merseyside club before heading to United, establishing herself as one of the league’s more reliable defenders. That grounding, coupled with three England caps, gives Brighton exactly what they have been shopping for this summer: proven quality with a steady head.
The move also drops her into a dressing room that is changing fast. Brighton have already landed Switzerland captain Lia Walti and brought in midfielder Emilie Joramo from Hammarby, among others, signalling a clear shift in intent. This is not a club content with seventh place again.
Last season’s seventh-place finish in the WSL offered stability but little drama. The recruitment drive suggests Brighton want more edge, more control, more authority in key moments. George fits that brief. She can play centrally, step out wide, and anchor a back line that will be tested from the opening whistle of the new campaign.
Opening Test
That opening test is a big one. Brighton start the season at home to Arsenal on Sunday, 6 September (12:00 BST). If the deal is completed in time, George could find herself facing one of the league’s most potent attacks on day one, in front of a fanbase eager to see what this new-look side really stands for.
Brighton are building a squad that looks less like a project and more like a statement. George’s arrival would underline that shift.
