Carlos Baleba has been Brighton’s star player this season. The Cameroon midfielder has notched up 29 appearances this season, the majority in a double-pivot midfield but he has also impressed in centre back in recent weeks. His defensive and ball-winning skills have aided the depleted Brighton defence. He is also very good on the ball, and his ball-carrying skills help his team push up the pitch. He has nailed down one-half of the midfield, with Fabian Hurzeler having a tricky decision in who to start alongside the 21-year-old in the Brighton midfield.
Who Should Partner Carlos Baleba In The Brighton Midfield
Yasin Ayari
The Swedish international has played more alongside Baleba than any other midfielder at the club. Ayari moved to Brighton in the winter of 2023 and has gone through a few loan spells since pushing his way into the first team under Hurzeler this season. He has impressed in this role, racking up 18 starts for the Seagulls in the league this campaign.
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With Baleba taking up more of a defensive role, this gives the second midfielder more freedom. Ayari regularly covers a lot of distance, making him one of the hardest-working players in the league. His work rate helps Brighton press against opposition teams when in possession. He has also created six big chances and is in the top 10% for chances created this term, showing off his creative skills.
Despite Ayari slowing down towards the end of the season, the 21-year-old has a bright future at the club.
Diego Gomez
Signed in the January transfer window for £11 million, Gomez has already had an impact on the team. Similar to Ayari, the Paraguayan has a lot of freedom to push forward. This suits him being a box-to-box midfielder. American-Paraguayan ESPN journalist Roberto Rojas said. “Very versatile by being able to track back and also on offence; works very well in a 4-3-3 supporting the forwards but really isn’t your classic no.10. Not afraid to also score and has the ability to be very hard working. Has a little bit of N’Golo Kante in him mixed with Pascal Groß.”
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He racks up a lot of touches on the ball and finds himself high up the pitch a lot of the time. Gomez can also defend, averaging two tackles and two blocks per game in the Brighton midfield. He is the perfect midfield profile to partner Baleba. Despite this, he has only started four times for Brighton since coming in. This could be due to him adapting to a new league.
Matt O’Riley
This could have been a very different season for the Danish star. Injuries have prevented him from having a run in the first team, with him only having eight starts. Most of these have come in 2025, with him having started the last three games.
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He is a different profile from the other centre midfielders at the club due to his attacking output. He has played a lot of football in a more advanced role this season, just ahead of the double-pivot. A part of this is down to the injury to Georginio Rutter. The Brighton midfielder has also improved his defensive skills. He has the ability to make numerous tackles in midfield and has adapted his game to track back and run more. He is also very comfortable making a pass and is also a tough player to win the ball back thanks to his ball control.
O’Riley has been favoured in a more advanced role so far under Hurzeler, but with his overall game improving, he could be the perfect all-round option to partner Baleba.
Mats Wieffer
The Dutch midfielder joined from Feyenoord in the 2024 summer transfer window after an impressive stint in the Eredivisie. He settles into a deeper role, with the ability to push forward to join attacks. His runs from deep can confuse opposition teams. This has not been showcased this season due to injury and a lack of form.
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The difference between him to Brighton’s other midfield candidates is that he is not a box-to-box midfielder. He can play that role but is best in a deeper position. With two defensive profiles in Baleba and Wieffer, this could allow Baleba to push forward and unlock his offensive skills. The two have not started many games together this season but could work well together in the future in the Brighton midfield.
