'I’m waiting for the furniture' - Brighton's new versatile gem gives candid response to how he is settling in at the club

The Turkish international, 24, was made to wait for his Albion debut due to a minor injury – but he looked right at home in his cameo appearances at the Amex against Ipswich and Wolves.

He needed just eight minutes on the pitch to score the all important third goal in the Carabao Cup tie last night (Wednesday, September 19).

It was a simple goal in the end but he had to be in the right place at the right time after Danny Welbeck’s shot was saved by Jose Sa. It also proved vital, as Wolves grabbed a consolation goal in injury-time.

"Yes, I think it was an important goal,” Kadioglu said.

"It doesn’t matter if it’s an ugly goal or a nice goal, a goal is a goal, 3-1. At the end an unnecessary goal, 3-2 but we are all happy that we go to the next round.

"A goal’s a goal. They are of the same importance. Of course I would like to have a nicer goal but for me it doesn’t matter, my first goal and I opened my account.”

During six seasons in the Super Lig, Kadioglu played more than 200 games for Fenerbahce, scoring 18 goals, and in 2023 he won the Turkish Cup.

Although Hurzeler likes his players to be specialists in their position, it helps that the full-back can slot in at midfield – and also play higher up the pitch like he did against Wolves.

Kadioglu said: “Today I played in a different position from the last game, as a right winger, just played according to the plan.

"The last three years I’ve played a lot on the left side or on the right side full back position but if the coach wants to use me in front I’m also able to do that.

"He [Hurzeler] didn’t tell me to score, but I scored a goal so I think he was also happy with that.

"I’m very happy – it was an important goal. The last goal was unnecessary. We have to manage the game better, just hit the ball long.

"It can happen, we have to learn from it but most important is that we go to the next round.”

Kadioglu was asked about his injury that kept him out of action until after the international break

He said: “I had a little injury last week. After the game [against Ipswich], I had some pain in my groin so I was not able to play a lot of minutes today, but for sure I was ready for a couple of minutes.

"I think I got ten minutes today and one goal – not bad!”

Kadioglu had the option to play for Turkey, Netherlands or Canada – his father is Turkish and his mother Dutch-Canadian. He played for the Netherlands at age groups under-16 to under-21 but opted to play senior international football for Turkey in 2022.

He has since been capped 20 times by Turkey and was one of their standout players at Euro 2024, playing every minute of their run to the quarter-finals in Germany this summer.

The 24-year-old was asked how he is settling in at Brighton.

He replied: “The players are very nice. They are helping me very well, a lot of Dutch players so it makes it easier for me to settle in.

"The facilities are amazing, the food, the pitches, the gym, the medical staff, you’ve got a nice spa so there’s everything. I found my house, so I’m waiting for the furniture to settle everything in. So for now it’s good, yes.”