One of the better performers in the Championship last season, Neal Maupay finally got his big move to the Premier League, swapping Brentford for Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of £18m.
Never quite making it in France at a young age, it took his former side’s gamble on him for the now 22-year-old to get his big breakthrough, which has paid off for everyone involved.
His performances last season didn’t go unnoticed, and a number of Premier League clubs came knocking, such as newly promoted duo Aston Villa and Sheffield United, but Maupay opted for a move to the coast instead.
Speaking to France Football, he explained why: “Because they are a club who, in my opinion, can suit me. They recently had a chance of manager, and [Graham Potter] has a vision of football that is a bit like mine, where I see myself.
“He’s a manager who, first and foremost, wants to play football. The club are giving themselves the means to perform, and I want to progress with him”.
While he did admit that Brighton as a town was a pull, it wasn’t a determining factor in the end, and fans of the club can rest assured that the fee paid by the Seagulls for his services isn’t something he’s thinking about.
He explained: “Honestly, it doesn’t interest me, and I’m not going to spend any time on it. Of course, I know the fees, but that’s a thing between clubs. That’s how the market is. I’m only focusing on what I know on the pitch. The rest isn’t my problem”.
The young striker scored 25 goals and assisted teammates eight times in 43 appearances last year, and if he even gets half of those numbers in the upcoming Premier League campaign, he’ll be on his way to becoming a success at the Amex Stadium.
First, however, he needs to show Potter why he deserves to start over the likes of Jürgen Locadia and Florin Andone.
