Brighton’s victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford highlighted their impressive performance despite having a significantly lower spending power. Following the defeat, Brighton manager Erik ten Hag made a surprising comment regarding the club’s spending, suggesting that Brighton had invested as much money as any other top team in the Premier League, including United.

When questioned about the disparity in spending between the two clubs, Ten Hag stated, “I believe all teams are investing heavily nowadays. Brighton, too, spends money like everyone else, and when a club like Manchester United is involved, it drives up the prices. That is the reality we face.”

According to BBC, the combined cost of Brighton’s starting lineup, put together by manager Roberto De Zerbi, was £16.2 million (€18.8/$20.5 million). In contrast, Manchester United splurged a total of £170 million during the summer transfer window to secure signings such as Andre Onana, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund.