Solly March is leaving Brighton after 13 years and 300 appearances, and the free transfer talk has already moved beyond farewell mode. Everton, Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Fulham are among the Premier League clubs being linked, but the bigger question is whether his injury-hit recent seasons still leave enough upside for a top-flight move.

Why clubs still see a deal here

The appeal is not hard to see. March is an experienced wide player who has spent more than a decade in the same environment, and Brighton say he leaves with 57 goals for the club, split between 26 goals and 31 assists. That is a proper return for a player who was never treated like a pure headline scorer.

His Brighton farewell also carried a sense of closure. March said, "It's hard to find the words to say goodbye to a club that's been my home for so long," and added, "Leaving was never going to be easy. This is my club and always will be, but I'm ready for a new challenge and excited."

That is why this is still a live market. Everton finished 12th on 49 points from 37 games, Fulham were 13th on 49 points from 37 games, and Crystal Palace ended 15th on 45 points from 37 games. Those are exactly the kind of squads where a free agent with March's experience starts to look sensible.

The injury question clubs have to answer

The hesitation is obvious too. March was limited to just 38 minutes of Premier League football this season after a knee injury, and he has also spoken about coming back from two ACL injuries as the toughest challenge he has faced.

That is why the market around him feels more cautious than celebratory. TEAMtalk say seven Premier League clubs are in the race, with Newcastle, Everton, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest named among them. Sports Mole also say Coventry City and Ipswich Town are interested, while West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are described as holding strong interest.

The Brighton side of the story matters too. They finished 7th on 53 points from 37 games, so March is leaving after helping sustain a top-half push rather than fading out at the wrong end of the table. He also made his 300th and final Brighton appearance as a substitute against Manchester United on the Premier League final day, which is a tidy way to close a long spell even if the next step is still undecided.

The balance of evidence says the interest is real, but so is the caution. Clubs are not chasing a peak-age winger on a fee, they are weighing up a free transfer for a player whose recent minutes have been badly interrupted. If one of the interested Premier League sides makes the move, that is the gamble they are taking.

FAQ

Which Premier League clubs are linked with Solly March after his Brighton exit?

According to the brief, Everton, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Fulham are among the Premier League clubs linked with Solly March. TEAMtalk also names Nottingham Forest, while Sports Mole says Coventry City and Ipswich Town are interested and that West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers hold strong interest.

Why are clubs considering Solly March on a free transfer?

March is leaving Brighton after 13 years and 300 appearances, so he is available on a free transfer. The appeal is his experience and versatility, but the main question is whether injury-hit recent seasons still leave enough upside for a top-flight squad.

How bad was Solly March’s injury record this season?

The brief says March was limited to just 38 minutes of Premier League football this season after a knee injury. That is why the move is being framed as a risk as well as an opportunity for clubs looking at a free transfer.

What did Solly March say about leaving Brighton?

"Leaving was never going to be easy. This is my club and always will be, but I'm ready for a new challenge and excited," March said. He also described Brighton as his home for so long and said goodbye was hard.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →