Yasin Ayari impressed by Malick Yalcouyé at Brighton

Malick Yalcouyé quickly made an impression at Brighton. Having arrived from IFK Göteborg in 2024, the 20-year-old Ivorian midfielder used his first starts to establish himself in the English squad. His teammate Yasin Ayari, who also came through the Swedish league, praised his performances.

Yalcouyé gradually establishes himself

After joining Brighton, Malick Yalcouyé was initially loaned to Sturm Graz, then to Swansea City in the Championship to gain playing time. This season, the midfielder finally had the opportunity to show what he could do with Brighton. He has already made five Premier League appearances and scored two goals.

His first start came against Chelsea, in particular, even though he was not initially expected to be in the starting XI. The absence of Yasin Ayari ultimately allowed him to start the match:

It’s fantastic. I don’t think many people expected it. It also came a little out of nowhere. He wasn’t supposed to start against Chelsea, but he got his chance because I couldn’t play. Then he had a very good game and, since then, he hasn’t stopped improving.

Ayari supports his teammate

Yasin Ayari knows the path from Sweden to Brighton well. The Sweden international joined the English club from AIK in 2023, before being loaned to Coventry and then Blackburn. The presence of several players from the Swedish league also makes it easier for him to support Yalcouyé and Zadok Yohanna, another former AIK player who arrived at Brighton this summer:

It’s nice to have someone who played in Sweden and with my brother Taha at AIK. It’s good that he has arrived at Brighton and is playing with us. I try to help him as much as possible.

Brighton have made a positive start to the season. After five rounds of the Premier League, the club have 10 points and sit third in the table. In this context, Yalcouyé’s performances give Brighton’s coach an additional option. The Ivorian midfielder will now have to confirm his promising early displays and continue to gain playing time.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

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