Ahead of Barclays Women’s Super League fixture release day on Friday 25 July, we’re taking a look at each of West Ham United women’s team’s opponents for 2025/26. Today we’re analysing… Brighton & Hove Albion.
2024/25 campaign
Last term was a historic one for Brighton & Hove Albion as they achieved their highest-ever finish in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Dario Vidošić’s side ended the campaign fifth in the standings, scoring a club record number of goals in a WSL season (35) in the process.
Seven of those goals came from 2024 summer signing Nikita Parris - a former Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City striker who arrived at the south-coast club with experience in abundance. And another seven were provided by former Chelsea stalwart Fran Kirby. The pair of England internationals have more than 150 international caps between them, and both were UEFA Women’s European Championship winners in 2022.
The shrewd summer 2024 signings, which also included the loan of Arsenal’s Michelle Agyemang and permanent arrival of Japan international Kiko Seike from Urawa Reds, set Brighton on their way to a successful season.
Vidošić’s Seagulls flew out the traps, only suffering two defeats from their first nine matches across all competitions, but hit a stumbling block. After their narrow victory over the Hammers on Saturday 16 November, it took Brighton exactly four months to chalk up their next league win, which came in the form of a 1-0 success away at Tottenham Hotspur.
High-scoring victories towards the back-end of the campaign against Everton (3-2) and Arsenal (4-2) saw the Seagulls head into their final match of the season knowing a fifth-place finish was secured.
Brighton got out of their Subway® Women’s League Cup group, but were beaten by Arsenal at the quarter-final stages before they bowed out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup against Manchester City in the round of 16.
Transfer business so far
Brighton have recruited two players so far this summer. Japan international defender Moeka Minami arrived from AS Roma, where she won back-to-back Serie A Femminile titles in 2023 and 2024.
Minami has been joined on the south coast by Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who saved two penalties against PSG to win the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine final with Paris FC.
Elsewhere, Poppy Pattinson, Maria Thorisdóttir, Guro Bergsvand, Dejana Stefanović and Pauline Bremer all departed at the end of the season following their contracts expiring, while Bruna Vilamala and Agyemang returned to their parent clubs.
One to Wach: Kiko Seike
Japan international Kiko Seike joined Brighton in the summer of 2024, bringing an end to her 15-year association with Urawa Reds, whom she represented on more than 150 occasions.
The 28-year-old made a blistering start to her maiden campaign in England’s top flight, netting a hat-trick on her debut in a resounding 4-0 victory against Everton at Broadfield Stadium.
Further goals would come for the versatile Seike, including against Chelsea and Arsenal, as the No11 finished her league campaign on six goals and four assists.
Played for both: Megan Walsh
It was in the summer of 2023 that goalkeeper Megan Walsh joined West Ham United women’s team from Brighton.
The 30-year-old spent four seasons with the Seagulls, making 76 appearances.
Republic of Ireland international Walsh has gone on to make ten appearances in a West Ham shirt - helping Rehanne Skinner’s side into the semi-finals of the Women’s League Cup last term with a Player of the Match performance against Tottenham Hotspur.
Memorable meeting: West Ham 3-1 Brighton, 2024/25
Last season’s meeting between the two teams at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Sunday 16 February brought a brilliant 3-1 success for Rehanne Skinner’s side.
Shekiera Martinez continued her impressive scoring form to put the Hammers in front after just 14 minutes, before Nikita Parris netted a quick response to send the sides into half-time level.
But two goals in the space of four second-half minutes from Riko Ueki and Viviane Asseyi ensured it was the Irons who clinched the three points in east London.
