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Levi Colwill wins Brighton Sexiest Player of the Season 2021-22
Is this the moment that convinces everyone’s favourite Chelsea loanee to try and force through a move from Stamford Bridge to the Amex this summer? Levi Colwill has been voted as Brighton Sexiest Player of the Season 2022-23.
Colwill dethrones Robert Sanchez, who had won the previous two editions of the award. Victory again would have secured the Spanish goalkeeper a record-breaking third success in the category.
Instead, Sanchez did not even make the top three. Turns out that throwing his toys out the pram and refusing to be a part of the Albion’s matchday squad has proven more costly to Sanchez than merely leaving his Brighton future into doubt.
It took some time for Colwill to establish himself in the starting XI at the Amex but once Roberto De Zerbi handed the 19-year-old his Premier League debut in November, there was no looking back.
Colwill impressed with his calmness in possession and his ability to fulfil De Zerbi’s unusual tactics of having a centre back man-mark a midfielder.
Both Martin Martin Odegaard and Kevin De Bruyne had their effectiveness blunted by Colwill stepping out of defence and following his designated target into areas no centre back would normally be comfortable in.
So good was Colwill in 2022-23 that he ended the season training with the senior England squad. As that rarest of things, a left footed central defender, he looks destined to have a big future at international level.
All of which explains why Brighton are prepared to break their transfer record to sign Levi Colwill. Chelsea have already rejected a £30 million bid with the Albion expected to go back in with a £40 million offer.
Colwill will surely play more regular first team football if he moves to Sussex, which should make a move attractive. Not to mention the opportunity to defend his Sexiest Player of the Season crown. Who could realistically say no to that?
For the second season running, Joel Veltman has found himself the bridesmaid rather than the bride in Sexiest Player of the Season.
The runners up spot belonged to the solid Dutch defender, who is as dependable on the pitch as he is good looking off it.
We wrote last year of Veltman: “Who has not imagined walking alongside tulips and canals in the Netherlands with Veltman before enjoying a cool pint of Grolsch and a suspiciously green cake?”
With Sanchez almost certainly not going to be a Brighton player in 2023-24 and Colwill’s return to the Amex still up in the air, Veltman could find himself with a clear run at finally winning this award next season.
That of course depends on Veltman himself remaining a Brighton player. There has still been no confirmation yet that Veltman has signed a new contract extension, or that the Albion have activated their option for an extra year.
Come on Joel, give us one more year so you can take the Sexiest Player of the Season crown that has been so close to yours these past two seasons.
Third place in the vote went to Kaoru Mitoma. Given how many loyal Japanese fans flocked to the Amex for every home game last season, it would not have been a surprise if Mitoma’s devoted countryman had carried him to victory.
But perhaps the Japanese think the idea of a Sexiest Player of the Season award stupid? After all, they are an intelligent nation far more technologically advanced than us in England, where even broadcasting the regional news in HD is beyond the realms of possibility.
WeAreBrighton.com Sexiest Player of the Season 2022-23 – The Results
- Levi Colwill – 32.25%
- Joel Veltman – 21.38%
- Kaoru Mitoma – 15.26
- Robert Sanchez – 11.56%
- Solly March – 10.28%
- Jason Steele – 9.24%
Previous Winners: Robert Sanchez (2022, 2021), Maty Ryan (2020, 2018), Bruno (2019), Shane Duffy (2017), Inigo Calderon (2016, 2015), Andrea Orlandi (2014, 2013), Vicente (2012)
