Brighton Signs France, Sweden Defenders Mpome, Kafaji

Brighton & Hove Albion have strengthened their squad for the 2025/26 Women's Super League season by signing French defender Maelys Mpomé permanently from Chelsea and securing Swedish forward Rosa Kafaji on a season-long loan from Arsenal. Mpomé, 22, struggled for playing time at Chelsea despite being part of the squad that won the domestic treble, appearing only eight times across all competitions; Brighton's head coach Dario Vidosic expressed optimism about her development and versatility as a defender. Meanwhile, Kafaji, also 22, joins Brighton aiming for regular first-team football after an injury disrupted her debut season at Arsenal, where she made 19 appearances but scored just once. Vidosic praised Kafaji's promise and versatility in attack, viewing her as a valuable addition to Brighton's frontline. These signings reflect Brighton's ambition to build a competitive squad by integrating talented players with WSL experience to enhance their performance in the upcoming campaign. Both players are expected to be available and contribute significantly from the start of the new season.