Pascal Gross has been named the Premier League’s player of the month for September, a recognition that has reignited the question of whether Brighton’s midfielder is one of the best value-for-money signings in the division’s history. The 35-year-old has effectively cost the Seagulls minus £3m across his two spells at the club, and he has been involved in 85 Premier League goals.
Nobody has been involved in more top-flight goals than Gross this season, with six in five games. He was Brighton’s first Premier League signing in 2017, arriving from relegated Ingolstadt for a reported £3m, before leaving for his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund in 2024 for £8m. In a surprise move, he returned to Albion in January for about £1.7m.
His creative output over the past nine years places him among the division’s elite. Since he first joined Brighton, only Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah have created more chances than his 562 — a figure that includes the 18 months he spent away from the Premier League. He has also delivered more successful crosses, including corners, than any other player in that time (483), despite Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Ward-Prowse attempting more, and he ranks fourth for passes played into the box. His 51 assists and 34 goals have come in 252 Premier League appearances. He has played in 73% of Brighton’s top-flight games since 1983.
Danny Murphy, the former England midfielder and BBC pundit, does not believe Gross has been underrated. “The Premier League is shown worldwide, and he has been a part of that for so many years during a time when Brighton have been a shining light,” Murphy said. “You don’t have to play for a big-six team to be appreciated in the Premier League. Gross is not under the radar, because people know how good he is.”
Johnny Cantor, BBC Radio Sussex commentator, offers a different view. “There’s an argument Gross is pound-for-pound the best value player in the Premier League over the last 10 years, especially when you look at his goal involvements,” he said. “However, he also drives standards in training, sets a high bar and is a huge influence in the dressing room. Technically he is excellent, has superb delivery but also possesses an awareness, popping up in spaces all around the pitch. Managers have leaned on him, team-mates respect him, and fans of all generations adore him. He will surely be remembered as one of the best Albion players of the modern age.”
Gross was Albion’s first signing after they sealed promotion to the top flight — a little-heralded German from relegated Ingolstadt whose impact, like Brighton’s, few could have anticipated. His journey with the club appeared over two years ago when he returned to Dortmund, where he played 66 times, scoring one goal and assisting 17. When he came back to Brighton aged 34, many wondered whether it was more of a romantic career swansong. Cantor added: “There may have been concerns that he may not have been able to recreate the impact of his first period at the Amex but that has been dispelled already.”
Only Chelsea’s Joao Pedro can match Gross’ goal contributions this season in the top flight, with both having three goals and three assists. Gross has run almost 60km (37 miles) in the Premier League this season, more than any player except Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong. He has played every single minute for Brighton in all competitions, eight games so far, and retired from international football after the World Cup.
Murphy highlighted the intelligence behind Gross’ game. “He’s an intelligent footballer, with a great football IQ,” he said. “You can see that he has 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 you know what you can do. So, you don’t see him trying to beat people on the outside with his pace. Instead he loves a little chop, or a Cruyff turn to give himself space and time, or to play a quick first-time pass around the corners. That’s why he always seems to be in space. His versatility tells you about his intelligence as well. He is able to play as a full-back, central midfield or, recently, as more of a 10. He is scoring and making goals. I am sure this won’t be his last season with Brighton but, even if it was, he is already going to be remembered as one of the Brighton greats by their supporters for what he has given so far to the club, especially with him coming back and doing what he is doing. It is nothing short of remarkable.”
Gross has created more Premier League chances (15) than anyone else this season, helping Brighton to third in the table. His form led to him becoming the sixth oldest player to be named Premier League player of the month. Brighton supporter Maz Mirzadeh said: “When he left for Dortmund, it was like going through a heartbreak and seeing an ex go back to their childhood sweetheart. He’s outrageously good and massively underappreciated. If you watch him play, you would think someone’s put him in slow-motion settings, but what he lacks in pace, he makes up in superior football IQ, technical brilliance and working harder than any other player on the pitch.” Mirzadeh added: “Even in his ‘unc’ era, he’s showing the Premier League’s elite how it’s done. If he was called Pascal Silva and played for a top-six club he might get the recognition and respect he truly deserves.”