Brighton and Hove Albion manager Fabian Hürzeler has admitted that the club cannot determine when Nigerian winger Femi Azeez will return to action, extending the wait for the 25-year-old to make his competitive debut for the Premier League side.
Azeez was unavailable for Brighton’s UEFA Conference League encounter against Czech club Jablonec on Thursday after failing to recover sufficiently to feature, despite recently returning to training with his new teammates.
The Nigeria international joined Brighton from Millwall on September 2, completing a deadline-day transfer after an impressive campaign in the English Championship. However, a hamstring problem sustained before his move has prevented him from making his first competitive appearance for the Seagulls.
Hürzeler confirmed that the club would need to remain patient with the winger, explaining that there was still no clear indication of how long his recovery would take.
“With Femi, again we have to be patient with him. It’s not quite clear how long it will take,” the German manager said.
Although the Brighton boss offered some reassurance about the severity of the problem, he stopped short of providing a return date.
“It seems to be not a big issue, but therefore we have to be patient with Femi,” he added.
The latest update represents another setback for Azeez, whose return to team training earlier in October had raised hopes that he could soon begin his Brighton career.
The winger had initially been expected to return after the September international break, but a subsequent setback delayed his recovery. His continued absence has also prevented him from building match fitness and adapting fully to his new club’s playing demands.
Azeez arrived at Brighton after an outstanding 2025-26 Championship campaign with Millwall, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 37 appearances.
His performances helped Millwall reach the Championship play-offs and earned him places in both the PFA Championship Team of the Year and the EFL Championship Team of the Season.
Those achievements made him an exciting addition to Brighton’s attacking options, with his ability to operate on either flank and contribute goals attracting attention during the transfer window.
However, his immediate priority remains regaining full fitness before competing for a place in Hürzeler’s starting line-up.
Brighton have made an encouraging start to the season, increasing the competition for attacking positions. Azeez will therefore need to demonstrate his fitness and adapt to the team’s tactical requirements before he can establish himself in the squad.
Hürzeler has previously stressed that new arrivals sometimes require additional time to adjust to Brighton’s intensity and style of play, although the manager’s latest comments indicate that Azeez’s immediate absence remains primarily a fitness concern.
The situation will also interest Nigeria’s national team, with the winger having emerged as an attacking option for the Super Eagles following his performances at the 2026 Unity Cup.
Azeez scored twice on his Nigeria debut against Zimbabwe and contributed an assist in the final against Jamaica, strengthening his case for further involvement with the national team.
His continued absence from club football, however, limits his opportunities to build on that international breakthrough.
For now, Brighton have not announced a definitive date for his return, leaving the Nigerian forward to continue his rehabilitation while the club monitors his progress.
Hürzeler’s latest comments suggest that the injury is not considered a major concern, but the absence of a clear timeline means Azeez must wait longer before making his long-awaited debut for the Seagulls.
