Brighton spent more than £200m in the summer of 2024. Big names and established internationals arrived on the south coast but hidden among them was a £6m arrival from IFK Goteborg called Malick Yalcouye.

The Mali-born midfielder had made just 14 appearances for IFK but Tony Bloom's algorithms and data models must have been pinging notifications left, right centre - which is quite apt, as Yalcouye can play left, right and centre.

The slightly-built 5ft 7in midfielder signed a five-year contract with Brighton and was immediately sent on loan to Sturm Graz.

He made 36 appearances for the Austrians -including eight in the Champions League - and scored four goals with two assists.

It was a solid seasons work and the next step was the second tier of English football and a loan move to Swansea.

Swansea development

Alan Sheehan was the head coach at the start of the season for the Swans but he was replaced by Vitor Matos, who was the elite development coach at Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp.

Yalcouye totalled 36 outings for Swansea and helped them to an 11th placed finish but it's fair to say the Brighton man had a mixed loan spell in south Wales.

His performances did little to suggest he would be such a force for Brighton in the Premier League or Conference League this season.

But the Seagulls have been here before. Yasin Ayari under-performed while on loan at Blackburn and Coventry - in fact the Sweden international described his stint at Coventry as "total shit" but he is now a machine in the Premier League for Brighton and a potential £60m-plus player.

Yalcouye has reached new levels

Yalcouye, 20, probably isn't as harsh as Ayari in his assessment from his season in the Championship but his start to the current campaign has taken his career to a new level.

He has featured in every match in all competitions so far. He has played every minute of the Conference League phase and started both Carabao Cup matches away at Manchester United and Manchester City.

He has started three in the Premier League and scored in two of those - both of which were excellent goals at Chelsea and Coventry.

He also scored in the Carabao at City and netted a powerful header in Brighton's 1-0 Conference League win at Getafe last night.

Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking after Thursday night's win at the Estadio Coliseum, said: “Malick has different skills and one skill is that he can attack the box well.

"He didn't only show it today or prove it today. He proved it through the whole season."

N'golo Kante comparisons

Yalcouye's stature and running power has drawn comparisons with former Leicester, Chelsea and France midfielder N'golo Kante but Yalcouye is different.

He can play the deeper midfield role but using him in advanced positions is a very clever move from Hurzeler and that's what has taken many by surprise.

Brighton's attacking players have to defend and press relentlessly high up the pitch and few players do that as well Yalcouye.

At first you think he's in the team for his running power alone. Then you realise, actually he's technically pretty good as well. He's also calm in front of goal and for a small player he can header with the best of them - his excellent goal at Getafe was case in point.

But surely his slight physic is going to be a problem when it comes to one-one duels in Premier League? Nope.

Dunk: Yalcouye is a tough cookie

"Everyone looks at him and thinks he's too small," said Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk to Sussex World.

"I see him in training every day and he's a tough cookie. He'll run into any size. Luka [Vuskovic] is the biggest, he'll run against him and smash him. His size doesn't matter."

Dunk also stated that Yalcouye is "shy" lad but the squad are helping him grow in confidence and develop, which is what Brighton do best.

Yalcouye contract

Yalcouye is one of the best stories to emerge from Brighton this season. He's a unique talent and has made it to the top level against the odds... and Bloom’s data model.

His contract runs until 2029 and no doubt Brighton are already looking at that and considering improved terms.

Yalcouye's £6m arrival in 2024 went beneath the radar, but not anymore. He has a huge role to play as Brighton look to achieve something special this season.