Struijk Settles Into Brighton After Leeds United Move

Pascal Struijk says he is becoming increasingly comfortable at Brighton and Hove Albion after joining from Leeds United in the summer. The 27-year-old defender told BBC Radio Sussex that an injury complicated his early adjustment, but subsequent playing time helped him gain confidence within the squad.

According to BBC Radio Sussex, Struijk signed a five-year contract with Brighton in a transfer worth around £20 million. His initial injury interrupted the transition, although he believes the time away from action also gave him an opportunity to adapt to his new teammates.

Struijk described his early months at the club as difficult before highlighting the value of his appearances toward the end of the period leading up to the international break.

"It was a little bit challenging in the beginning with the injury, but afterwards, I feel like that time gave me space to settle into the team more and get more confidence in the group," Struijk told BBC Radio Sussex.

He also emphasized the importance of receiving more minutes on the pitch as he continued integrating into Brighton's setup.

"The beginning was challenging, but me getting minutes at the end until the [international] break has been really good for me," Struijk said.

Brighton's victory over Arsenal before the three-week international pause provided another positive moment for the defender. Struijk praised the team's performance and said the side maintained its level throughout the match, while acknowledging that there remained room for improvement.

"For us, it was very nice. We couldn't go into that game any better and we kept it all the way. Perfect performance, you may say, but there's always something to improve on," Struijk said.

The result came as Brighton prepared for the international break, with Struijk continuing to establish his place following his summer arrival. His comments reflected satisfaction with the team's display without suggesting that its performance had been flawless.

Beyond settling into the squad, Struijk identified set pieces as an area where he could make a greater contribution. The defender believes his physical presence can create additional scoring opportunities, particularly in the penalty area.

"Yes, I feel like I can bring threat from set-pieces in physicality. I think I can help the team, scoring goals, being dangerous in the box. I think I can add to that," Struijk said.