Jaouen Hadjam's Potential Move to Albion: What It Means for Brighton

Jaouen Hadjam was kept firmly out of the spotlight in Switzerland – just as his move to Albion edges closer.

The Algeria international, strongly tipped to join the Seagulls in a £10 million switch from Young Boys, was left on the bench and unused as his side beat Vaduz 4-2 in the league on Sunday. For a player who had started Young Boys’ previous games, the decision felt significant.

Head coach Gerardo Seoane had already planted the seed during the week, openly questioning how focused Hadjam could be “when he is on the verge of a potential transfer.” On Sunday, his team sheet answered that.

The 23-year-old still took centre stage after the final whistle. He spent around 15 minutes signing autographs and posing for photos with supporters, a familiar routine for the former Paris FC youngster – but this time it carried the air of a goodbye.

Hadjam is primarily a left-back but is comfortable operating on the right as well, a versatility that fits neatly with how Albion have built their squad. He arrived at Young Boys from Nantes and played his part in securing the 2023-24 Swiss title, adding to a growing reputation that has also brought him 21 caps for Algeria.

At Brighton, the left side of defence is already a high-performing area. Ferdi Kadioglu shone at left-back last season, collecting player of the year honours and showing he can switch to the right when required. Maxim De Cuyper, converted from winger to full-back, is another option on that flank, though his early Premier League outings have hinted he might be even more effective pushed higher up the pitch.

If Hadjam does complete his move, Albion will not just be adding another defender. They will be deepening the competition in one of their strongest areas – and asking some sharp questions about how that back line will look when the season settles into full stride.