Brighton & Hove Albion received an unexpected visitor as German MMA fighter Christian Eckerlin shared Instagram photos of himself training with the Premier League squad.
Alongside stars like Danny Welbeck and James Milner, the 32-year-old from Frankfurt performed martial arts exercises during the team session. Whether coach Fabian Hürzeler aims to instill more physicality in his players this way remains unclear – Eckerlin is known for his focus on intensity.
The middleweight and welterweight champion of the German MMA Championship expressed his gratitude to Brighton with the words: “Thanks for having me.” The connection may have been made through fellow German Hürzeler. It remains to be seen whether Brighton will incorporate more “fighting” elements both on the training ground and on the pitch.
Second Season Under Hürzeler
Brighton & Hove Albion opened their Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Fulham. On Sunday, the Seagulls face an away match at Everton.
The team is not competing internationally this season – last year they finished only eighth in England’s top flight. Hürzeler has been in charge since July 2024 and currently holds a solid points-per-game average of 1.67.
