A 17-year wait is finally over for Danny Welbeck. The 34-year-old striker has hit double figures for Premier League goals in a single season for the first time in his career, scoring a penalty in Brighton's 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday, May 10, 2025. This remarkable achievement comes in what has been a stellar season for Welbeck, who has now netted 10 goals in the league, a feat he never accomplished during his time at Manchester United, Arsenal, or Watford.
Welbeck's journey to this milestone has been anything but straightforward. After making his Premier League debut for Manchester United as a 17-year-old in November 2008, he faced numerous injury setbacks throughout his career. However, since joining Brighton, he has enjoyed a resurgence, making 29 appearances in three consecutive Premier League seasons for the first time in his career. "It is a good milestone to have - and I feel like it could have been more," Welbeck said after the match. "I'm looking forward to improving. We have two more games left and hopefully I'll get some more [goals]." His performance has been crucial for Brighton, with each of his past nine goals either putting the Seagulls ahead or leveling the score.
The match against Wolves saw Welbeck open the scoring with a penalty awarded after Matheus Cunha fouled Mats Wieffer inside the box. The decision was a moment of irony, as Cunha, who is rumored to be leaving Wolves for Manchester United this summer, was the one who gifted Brighton the chance to score. Welbeck confidently converted the penalty, sending Wolves goalkeeper José Sá the wrong way.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler praised Welbeck's contributions, saying, "Danny is a special character, an unbelievable role model for everyone, especially the younger players, both on the pitch and on the side. He is a great goalscorer. I am really happy for him that he has this record." Hurzeler also highlighted the importance of the medical team in keeping Welbeck fit, acknowledging that he has never had so many minutes on the pitch as he has this season.
As the match progressed, Brighton doubled their lead through Brajan Gruda, who scored his first goal for the club after coming on as a substitute. Gruda's goal was set up by Simon Adingra, who capitalized on the space created by Welbeck's clever run. The 20-year-old German midfielder expressed his joy after the match, stating, "It was a hard season for me and I'm really happy to score my first goal. I'm happy the guys come to me and celebrated with me. I think you can see from the goal how many feelings are - it means a lot to me."
With this victory, Brighton remains in contention for European football, currently sitting in ninth place, level on points with Brentford. They have two crucial matches remaining against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, and Hurzeler is focused on those challenges. "I’m not thinking about Europe," he said. "I’m thinking about how we can compete in the next game with the best team in the league."
Wolves, on the other hand, suffered their first home defeat since February, with manager Vítor Pereira acknowledging the need for improvement. "They deserved to win, we know we can be better, it is time to correct – mentally and physically – my team," Pereira remarked. His side had shown promise in recent matches but failed to capitalize on their chances against Brighton.
As the season winds down, Welbeck's achievement stands out as a testament to his resilience and determination. He is now just one goal away from matching his most productive season across all competitions, when he scored 12 times for Manchester United in 2011-12. Hurzeler is optimistic about Welbeck's future, stating, "I hope he can carry on, but I can't see into the future, so we will have to wait and see. He has to continue how he behaves at the moment. He is very professional and I am convinced that he can carry on for a long time."
Brighton's final two matches will be pivotal as they aim to secure a European spot, and with Welbeck in fine form, the Seagulls will be looking to capitalize on their momentum. The excitement continues to build as the season reaches its climax, with fans eagerly anticipating how their team will fare against formidable opponents in the coming weeks.
