Technical director David Weir is delighted with the seasons that Dutchmen Jan Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen have enjoyed.
The pair had different pathways to the first team, but have proved key figures in our first season in European competition.
Bart joined us last season from Anderlecht, and his form for Albion has seen him called up to the Netherlands national squad ahead of next month's EUROS. He made 27 appearances in all competitions for the club this season.
“I think Bart had played less than 20 first-team games but at a good level," said Weir. "We did our homework on him as an individual – his character references were better than solid. We knew there was a lot of interest in him and big clubs were after him.
“The key for him from our conversations was the opportunity to play. We didn’t give him guarantees in terms of saying that he would play, but you’ve seen how he’s progressed this season. He’s had help from Jason [Steele] and the coaches to understand the Premier League, being in and out of the team. We don’t get them all right, but he looks to be a really good signing.
“There’s a lot of people who have been involved in that process and from what we’ve seen to this point we’ve got exactly what we thought we were getting and we’re really happy with that in terms of the goalkeeper, the person and the member of the squad. That’s credit to a lot of people.”
Jan Paul, on the other hand, signed for Brighton in 2020 before spending time on loan with NAC Breda, Heerenveen and Blackburn.
After a relatively quiet first full season with Albion the defender had his breakthrough campaign, making 28 Premier League appearances and a further 11 in cup competitions including seven of our eight matches in the Europa League.
“He’s another great story,” David said. “We brought him in from NAC Breda and he was a pretty low-profile signing. He then he had a loan back in Holland, a loan to Blackburn in the Championship and then he came back in with us.
“He wasn’t playing, he was frustrated, he had to be patient. He’s continued to develop, to learn.
“His character was exactly as we thought it would be. He's outstanding as a person - forthright and challenging - but everyone loves him.
“What you see on the pitch is exactly what you get from Jan Paul. A lot of people have been involved in that process in terms of the loan group under [loans manager] Gordon Greer, to Roberto De Zerbi who worked with him, was sometimes hard on him but enabled him to develop into what is, in my opinion, a top Premier League centre-back. It’s a great story for the club and JP.
“We’re also lucky here in terms of [defenders] Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Joel Veltman. So for Jan Paul to come and get that experience is really useful.”
You can hear more from David from when he was a guest on the Official Brighton & Hove Albion Podcast here.