Maxim De Cuyper: Brighton’s Unexpected Attacking Weapon

Watching a new signing transform into an indispensable starter is one of the most satisfying arcs in modern football. At Brighton & Hove Albion, Maxim De Cuyper is executing that exact transition.

When the Belgian left-back arrived from Club Brugge in the summer of 2025, he brought a reputation as a dynamic, attack-minded full-back capable of unlocking deep defensive blocks. His inaugural Premier League campaign yielded encouraging glimpses of that potential posting two goals and three assists across 30 appearances. Now, early in the 2026/27 season, De Cuyper is asserting himself as a crucial piece in manager Fabian Hürzeler’s tactical engine.

Early Season Impact & Production

Seven Premier League matches into the current campaign, De Cuyper has already matched his total goal and assist contributions from the entire previous season:

The 25-year-old has established himself as a potent focal point along Brighton’s left flank. His key contributions have already proven decisive across several fixture types:

• Opening Day Statement: Scored in a dominant 4–0 victory against Aston Villa.

• Away Performance: Added a clinical goal in a 2–0 win at Sunderland.

• Chance Creation: Provided key assists in competitive fixtures against Leeds United and Coventry City.

Tactical Flexibility & Role Evolution

De Cuyper’s technical foundation was built in Belgium, where he recorded 6 goals and 15 assists for Club Brugge. That attacking profile aligns perfectly with Brighton’s recruitment methodology, which targets technical fluidity and progressive passing over rigid positional specialization.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
|                       DE CUYPER'S DUAL ROLE                      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
|  1. DEEP BUILD-UP (Full-Back)   |  2. ADVANCED WIDE CREATOR     |
|  - Progressive passing          |  - High-volume crossing       |
|  - Structural safety behind     |  - Direct box entry           |
|  - Combines with central midfield|  - Fills in for absent wingers |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+

Adapting to Injuries & Tactical Demands

With injuries to key wide players such as Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh, Hürzeler has pushed De Cuyper into higher, more assertive positions. Rather than acting as a simple placeholder, De Cuyper offers distinct tactical advantages:

1. Positional Fluidity: Operates comfortably as a traditional overlapping full-back or an advanced wing-back without requiring structural substitutions.

2. Varied Delivery: Delivers dangerous crosses from wide areas while possessing the vision to invert and combine through central pockets.

3. Sustained Width: Maintains attacking width on the left touchline, allowing interior midfielders room to operate in the half-spaces.

Tactical Balance: Pushing a full-back higher up the pitch inherently risks leaving space behind for opposition counter-attacks. De Cuyper’s long-term effectiveness hinges on how seamlessly Brighton’s central defenders and defensive midfielders cover the space he vacates when possession is lost.

The Path Ahead

Brighton’s recruitment strategy relies on maximizing a player’s core strengths within a cohesive system rather than hoping raw prospects simply adapt. At 25, De Cuyper possesses the ideal mix of senior experience and physical maturity to cement his position as a cornerstone of Hürzeler’s squad.

His explosive start to the season provides a strong foundation. As Brighton navigate fixture congestion and tactical adjustments, De Cuyper’s versatility gives his manager an invaluable asset on the pitch and a clear path toward becoming one of the Premier League’s premier wide operators.