Who Owns Brighton FC

• Ken Anucha
• December 16, 2024

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club is a professional football team founded in 1901. The club is based in Brighton, England, and its home ground is the Falmer Stadium. Brighton has a nickname, “The Seagulls.”

They joined the Football League in 1920 and reached the First Division for the first time in 1979. After some tough years, they returned to the Premier League in 2017. The club has had notable achievements, including reaching the FA Cup final in 1983. Recently, Brighton has become a strong team in the Premier League, finishing sixth in the 2022-2023 season and qualifying for European competitions.

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Brighton Football Club Premier League History

Brighton & Hove Albion have had an exciting and inspiring journey in the Premier League since their first season in the top flight. Their debut season in the Premier League was in 2017-18, and it was a big moment for the club.

Brighton had a decent start, often climbing into the top half of the table during that campaign. However, by January, they found themselves just one point above the relegation zone. Thankfully, important wins against big teams like Arsenal and Manchester United helped Brighton finish the season in 15th place.

The second season was much tougher for Brighton. They struggled throughout the campaign and finished in 17th place, avoiding relegation. Despite their league struggles, they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1983, but they lost narrowly to Manchester City.

After the season ended, Chris Hughton, who had been Brighton’s manager since 2014, was replaced due to poor results. In 2019, Graham Potter was hired as the new head coach. Under Potter, Brighton made progress and achieved consistent mid-table finishes.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting football between March and June 2020, Brighton ended the next two seasons in 15th and 16th place, which ensured their longest-ever stay in the Premier League.

By the 2021-22 season, Brighton hit a new high by finishing ninth in the league with 51 points, their best-ever performance in English football at that time. Potter left the club in September 2022 to join Chelsea, and Roberto De Zerbi became the new head coach. De Zerbi brought a fresh approach to Brighton, and the team continued to improve.

The 2022-23 season was another historic one for Brighton as they qualified for European football for the first time, securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League after finishing sixth in the Premier League with 62 points.

Brighton impressed in the Europa League the following season, topping their group and advancing to the Round of 16, but they were eventually eliminated by Roma. Despite their European adventure, their league form dipped, and Brighton finished the 2023-24 season in 11th place.

After the season, De Zerbi and the club parted ways. In June 2024, Fabian Hürzeler became Brighton’s new manager, making history as the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history at just 31 years old. Hürzeler’s first game in charge was a 3-0 victory over Everton in August 2024.

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Who Owns Brighton Football Club Now?

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club is owned by Tony Bloom, a successful English businessman and passionate Brighton fan. Tony Bloom has been the majority owner and chairman of the club since 2009.

He is well-known in football and also as a poker player and a professional sports bettor. His love for Brighton runs deep, as his family has been connected to the club for decades. His grandfather, Harry Bloom, was the vice-chairman in the 1970s, and his uncle, Ray Bloom, is a director at the club.

Tony Bloom became Brighton’s owner when he bought a 75% share of the club in 2009. He made a big investment of £93 million to help the club build its new stadium, the Falmer Stadium, which is now called the Amex Stadium. Before his ownership, Brighton struggled financially, but Bloom’s investment brought stability and new hope to the team and its fans.

Since Bloom became chairman, Brighton has achieved great things. One of the biggest moments was in the 2016–17 season when the team gained promotion to the Premier League after 34 years outside the top division.

Under his ownership, Brighton reached their best-ever Premier League finish in the 2022–23 season, ending in 6th place and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in their history.

This success was partly due to the work of manager Roberto De Zerbi, who continued building on the foundation set by previous managers like Graham Potter. Tony Bloom also owns a minority share in Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, a club in Belgium.

However, because of UEFA rules about owning multiple clubs in European competitions, he recently adjusted his involvement with the Belgian team. Tony Bloom is also involved in charitable projects in Brighton and Hove. In 2024, he was honored with an MBE for his contributions to football and the Brighton community.

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How Much Is A Brighton Owner Worth?

Tony Bloom’s net worth is estimated to be between £716 million and £1.3 billion. Over recent years, his wealth has grown significantly. In 2023, reports placed his net worth at about £500 million, but by 2024, this figure had risen to £716 million. Some reports suggest his fortune could be even higher, nearing £1.3 billion.

Bloom has built his wealth through success in professional gambling and wise investments in different businesses. He is well-known for his skill in poker and sports betting, which helped him earn much of his money.

In 2009, he became the majority owner of Brighton & Hove Albion by acquiring a 75% stake in the club. Since then, he has been a key part of the team’s rise from the lower leagues to become a solid Premier League side.