Brighton & Hove Albion's Pre-Season Plans Disrupted by G7 Summit Helicopters
Brighton & Hove Albion's pre-season plans have been disrupted by the G7 summit, with helicopters landing on pitches in France rendering them unusable.
What Happened?
The club was set to train in Evian-les-Bains, near the Swiss border, from July 23 to August 1, but the extensive damage to the playing surfaces has forced them to relocate to Austria. The helicopters, transporting various heads of state, including US President Donald Trump and former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, landed during the high-profile G7 summit held last month.
Why it Matters for Brighton & Hove Albion
The disruption to Brighton & Hove Albion's pre-season plans is a significant setback for the club, which is looking to build on its 8th-place finish in the Premier League last season. The team has already completed the signing of Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for an initial club record £46m, but the loss of training time could impact their preparations for the new season.
What Comes Next?
Brighton & Hove Albion's return home will see them host friendlies against Italian clubs Roma and Bologna on August 8 and 15 respectively. These fixtures precede the first leg of their Conference League play-offs on August 20, with the Premier League season kicking off three days later against Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium.
As of July 25, 2026, Brighton & Hove Albion stands 8th in the Premier League, with 52 goals scored and 46 conceded (+6 goal difference). They are 32 points behind leaders Arsenal and currently have Zadok Yohanna sidelined.
The club's transfer window has seen the signing of Luka Vuskovic, but the loss of Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham and Diego Coppola to Paris FC has also been notable. The team's preparations for the new season are now under way, despite the disruption caused by the G7 summit.
