Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba doubtful for start of 2026-27 after ankle ligament injury

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba is doubtful for the start of the 2026–27 season after sustaining an ankle ligament injury during preseason, according to a report published on August 6, 2026. The club expect him to be sidelined for a period but are hopeful the problem is not long-term.

Baleba missed Brighton’s 4-3 victory over Strasbourg after picking up the injury in preseason. Head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who has rotated his midfield options, will have to account for Baleba’s absence while the squad finalises preparations before competitive matches begin.

The 22-year-old Cameroonian international joined Brighton from LOSC Lille in the summer of 2023 and has made 31 Premier League appearances to date. The report noted a downturn in his form last season compared with the box-to-box displays he produced in 2024–25.

Those 2024–25 performances initially drew interest from Manchester United and other elite European sides, but a move for Baleba did not materialise at the end of last campaign. Instead, Manchester United moved for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

Brighton have been active in the current transfer window, signing Costinha, Zadok Yohanna, Pascal Struijk, Luka Vuskovic and Michael Svoboda. Baleba’s fitness uncertainty will influence Hurzeler’s selection options for the early fixtures despite those incoming players.

Brighton begin their season on August 20 with the away leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off against either Tromso or CFR Cluj, followed three days later by a Premier League home match against Aston Villa.