Brighton chief Paul Barber explains why Danny Welbeck was sold to Chelsea

Brighton and Hove Albion chief executive Paul Barber says the club’s decision to sell Danny Welbeck to Chelsea was based on a combination of business considerations and the need to create opportunities within Fabian’s squad.

Welbeck, 36, secured a surprise move to the Blues during the off-season after producing the most prolific Premier League campaign of his career, scoring 13 goals last term.

The striker had become an important figure both on the pitch and inside the Brighton dressing room during his six years at the club. His performances were strong enough for some supporters to suggest he deserved a place in England’s World Cup squad, although Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel decided not to select him.

Speaking at Brighton’s pre-season fans forum, Barber acknowledged the emotional reaction to Welbeck’s departure but said the club had to consider the wider implications of retaining him.

“We understand the surrounding emotion – we are all emotional about it because Danny’s fantastic and has been for six years. We also have to look at it pragmatically with a business eye and also think about Fabian’s squad opportunities in the season ahead,” said Barber.

Barber added that Brighton and Welbeck had reached the same conclusion about the transfer, with both sides believing the move was appropriate at this stage of the striker’s career.

He also warned that the club could have faced criticism had Welbeck started the campaign and then suffered an injury.

“If we had started Danny in the first four or five games, and he broke down, there’d be some people saying, ‘Why are you relying on a 36-year-old?’ or, ‘It’s ridiculous, you should have thought about that!’

“We do think about these things, we obviously think about them very carefully, and we came to the decision we came to, and Danny came to the decision he came to. We think it’s right for both sides.”

Welbeck’s departure brings to an end a Brighton spell in which he established himself as one of the club’s senior players and delivered the most goals in a single Premier League season of his career.

The former Manchester United and Arsenal forward previously won the Premier League with Manchester United and the FA Cup with Arsenal earlier in his career.

At Chelsea, Welbeck will join Xabi Alonso’s squad alongside former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson. The club’s decision to sign the experienced pair represents a change in transfer policy, following a period in which Chelsea had generally avoided recruiting senior players while placing greater emphasis on developing younger talent.

Welbeck is expected to provide additional depth for Alonso’s side as Chelsea prepare to challenge for the Premier League title next season. The club last won the competition in 2017.