As the 2026-27 season approaches, Brighton is setting its sights on a future defined by innovation and inclusion. The club’s chairman, Tony Bloom, has outlined a vision that emphasizes continuous evolution, while community advocate Sabah Choudrey is urging businesses to move beyond performative allyship and embrace genuine inclusion.
Brighton’s strategic approach to the new season
Brighton has made a strong start to the season, with a solid 0-0 draw in the Uefa Conference League play-off first leg against Tromso followed by a dominant 4-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa. However, the club has also seen several key players depart, including Jan Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck, Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, and Solly March.
Looking ahead, Brighton is expected to lose Carlos Baleba to Manchester United and Yankuba Minteh to Liverpool for a combined fee of around £150m. Despite these high-profile exits, chairman Tony Bloom insists that the club will continue to invest and innovate. “We believe there is more to come and we must continue challenging ourselves to improve both on and off the pitch,” Bloom stated ahead of the Aston Villa match.
Bloom acknowledged the competitive landscape, noting that “there are many clubs with similar ambitions and, in some cases, greater resources.” He emphasized the need for Brighton to “continue to evolve, invest and innovate while remaining true to the principles that have brought us this far.” The club has already made significant moves in the transfer market, including the £50m signing of centre back Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham, who has impressed in his early appearances.
Sabah Choudrey’s call for genuine inclusion
While Brighton is focusing on its sporting ambitions, community advocate Sabah Choudrey is calling on businesses to move beyond “performative allyship” and take meaningful action to support LGBTQ+ employees. Choudrey, who co-founded Trans Pride Brighton in 2013, argues that businesses need to listen to LGBTQ+ employees and take steps that reflect their stated values.
“There’s a lot of misinformation about the trans community and therefore about what trans inclusion means,” Choudrey said. They emphasized that trans people are already part of the workforce, customer base, and wider communities, and that excluding them would be detrimental to businesses. “If businesses exclude us, they will lose us,” Choudrey warned.
Choudrey also highlighted the broader impact of trans exclusion, noting that some cisgender women experience hostility because of their gender expression. They argued that creating inclusive workplaces benefits everyone, as diversity brings different perspectives to problem-solving and innovation. “Diversity is better for business,” Choudrey stated.
However, Choudrey cautioned against initiatives that are merely performative. They advised businesses to ask themselves what the intention behind an initiative is, who is leading it, what the community actually needs, and what resources or influence the organisation can offer. “Actions need to be led by the people they affect and represent, and driven by people with that lived experience,” Choudrey said.
Choudrey also stressed the importance of ongoing commitment to inclusion, rather than limiting it to specific awareness days or months. “Intentions matter and speak volumes, but actions are louder,” they said. “Our community exists beyond one day, one week or a month of awareness raising. A community is going to need you way beyond that, too.”
