Brighton agree surprise deal to re-sign Pascal Gross from Borussia Dortmund just a year after selling Germany international

Brighton and Hove Albion have reportedly agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund to re-sign midfielder Pascal Gross. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the 34-year-old Germany international's return to the Premier League club is "imminent," with a medical scheduled within the next 48 hours.

This move comes just over a year after Gross left Brighton in August 2024 to join his boyhood club Dortmund for an initial £8 million. While Romano did not disclose a fee, other reports indicate Brighton will pay just under €2 million, with potential add-ons of €1 million, to bring him back to the Amex Stadium.

Gross had a successful season at Dortmund, making 49 appearances across all competitions. He scored one goal in the Champions League and notably provided four assists in a single Bundesliga match, becoming only the third player in German top-flight history to achieve that feat.

During his previous seven-year stint with Brighton, Gross became a club legend. He made 261 appearances, was the club's all-time leading Premier League scorer for a period, and played a key role in securing the club's first European qualification by finishing sixth in the 2022-23 season.

Brighton's head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, who had previously expressed disappointment at not getting to work with Gross, had recently confirmed discussions with the club's hierarchy about January transfers, though he remained coy on specific targets. Gross, who has 16 caps for Germany and played in Euro 2024, had promised Brighton fans in an open letter upon his departure that he "will be back at some point."