Brighton’s Deniz Undav Decision Backfires After What He Did vs Celtic

Brighton's decision to sell Deniz Undav to VfB Stuttgart has proven costly, as the German striker delivered a standout performance against Celtic in the UEFA Europa League play-off first leg on February 19, 2026, at Celtic Park.

Undav, who previously shone at Brighton before his transfer, has been in scintillating form for Stuttgart this season. Trailing only Bundesliga stars like Harry Kane and Luis Diaz, he has netted 16 goals across all competitions, showcasing his lethal finishing and playmaking ability[1][3]. His exploits highlight what Brighton may have lost, especially as he orchestrated key moments in Stuttgart's commanding display against Celtic.

In the match, Stuttgart took the lead in the 15th minute when Undav flicked the ball brilliantly to Bilal El Khannouss on the edge of the box. The 21-year-old Moroccan slotted home a low shot from 15 meters, following an interception by Finn Jeltsch off Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel[2]. Undav was central to Stuttgart's attacking threat, later assisting Jamie Leweling for another goal in the 57th minute[2]. His vision and composure underlined Stuttgart's dominance, with further contributions from Ermedin Demirovic and others.

Celtic responded with goals from Benjamin Nygren (21') and others, but Stuttgart's Bundesliga pedigree—bolstered by players like Maximilian Mittelstadt and Angelo Stiller—prevailed in a high-stakes tie under Martin O’Neill's milestone 1,000th game as Celtic coach[1]. Undav's Bundesliga stats are equally impressive: 7 goals in 9 starts, 34 shots (12 on target), and high percentile rankings in touches (88%) and shot attempts (96%) among forwards[3]. A recent 8.3 Sofascore rating came in Stuttgart's 3-1 win over FC Koln[4].

Brighton's sale now looks like a major misstep, with Undav thriving in Europe and potentially haunting English clubs further. The second leg looms on February 26[5], where his form could seal Stuttgart's advancement.

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