Solly March has spoken publicly for the first time since his Brighton & Hove Albion exit, revealing his hurt over the club's handling of his departure but confirming he is fully fit and ready for a new challenge. The 32-year-old winger left the club last summer after 13 years and 300 appearances, with Brighton deciding against triggering a contract extension.
March told reporters he is now training to maintain his condition and is open to a move abroad to play at the highest level possible. He has been working in Dubai and Doha, and there is no longer any swelling on his knee. He said his current fitness statistics, including his goal minutes, are hitting Premier League levels, and his recent form in training suggests he is ready to contribute immediately.
Reflecting on his Brighton exit
March revealed the manner of the club's decision not to extend his contract hurt him most, despite accepting the outcome as part of football. "It wasn’t the decision itself that hurt, because that’s fine, that’s football," March said. "I didn’t agree with it, I still think I could have made an impact this season."
He added that the process felt strange. "But it was the way it was done which probably hurt the most. It still hurts now, to be honest," he said. March's agent was informed on the Monday after the final match of last season, following a period of indecision that involved talks with head coach Fabian Hurzeler and the club’s sporting director. Brighton were cautious due to March's recent injury record, which saw him make just 24 appearances over the past three seasons.
March's Brighton legacy and current squad context
March made 300 appearances for Brighton, including 194 in the Premier League, scoring 26 goals and providing 31 assists. His best position was on the right side of the attack, cutting in on his left foot. Brighton have since moved on, with Yankuba Minteh the first-choice right winger when fit and Diego Gomez starting there this season, as seen in the current squad profile. The club also invested heavily in young wingers Zadok Yohanna and Femi Azeez last summer.
His 300th and final game came in the last fixture of the previous season, a 3-0 home loss to Manchester United, where he came on for the closing 30 minutes. He managed just 38 minutes of Premier League action in his final term. A potential summer move to a rival Premier League club, understood to be Crystal Palace, fell through despite March passing a medical.
Now a free agent, March is assessing his options while the club he left continues its strong start to the season. Brighton & Hove Albion sit third in the Premier League standings with 10 points from five games and are on a three-game winning run, with their next fixture a key test. March's immediate focus remains on securing a new club where he can contribute at the highest level, stating clearly that he is raring to go.
The report in full is at brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk
