Timely recognition or long overdue? How Gross is proving all-time bargain

Named the Premier League's player of the month for September, BBC Sport looks at Brighton star Pascal Gross' impact both this season and over the past nine years during his two spells at the club. Only Joao Pedro has been involved in more top-flight goals than Pascal Gross this season Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross may be one of the best value-for-money signings in Premier League history. In fact the 35-year-old has effectively cost the Seagulls minus £3m – and been involved in 86 Premier League goals over two spells. Already in this campaign, Gross has been involved in seven Brighton goals in six games. His latest provided the opener in his side's 2-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday, a slide-rule pass finding Maxim de Cuyper to slot home.

Gross became the oldest player to provide an assist in three successive Premier League games since a 38-year-old Ryan Giggs did so for Manchester United in February 2012. In 2026, only Bruno Fernandes and Dominik Szoboszlai have created more chances than the German – and that includes the 18 months he was away from the Premier League. Gross was Brighton's first Premier League signing in 2017 for a reported £3m from Ingolstadt. He left for his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund in 2024 for £8m – but in a surprise move he returned