Maxim De Cuyper is one of Belgium’s most exciting left-backs, and his recent move to the Premier League has put his finances under the spotlight.
This article covers everything you need to know about Maxim De Cuyper’s net worth, including his Brighton salary, contract value, and career earnings from Club Brugge to the English top flight.
Maxim De Cuyper’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maxim Peter M. De Cuyper |
| Date of Birth | December 22, 2000 |
| Age | 25 years old |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Place of Birth | Knokke-Heist, Belgium |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Position | Left-Back / Left Midfielder |
| Current Club | Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League) |
| Turned Professional | 2020 |
| Contract Expires | June 2030 |
| Net Worth | ~$3 million (estimated) |
| Weekly Salary | £55,000 (approx. $69,000) |
| Annual Salary | £2.86 million (~$3.6 million) |
Early Life & Career
Maxim De Cuyper was born on December 22, 2000, in Knokke-Heist, a coastal town in the West Flanders province of Belgium. He started playing organized football at KFC Heist a/z at just five years old before Club Brugge’s scouts spotted him in 2008.
He spent a decade developing in Club Brugge’s famous youth academy, widely regarded as one of Belgium’s best development pipelines.
De Cuyper worked through Brugge’s age groups and eventually broke into the UEFA Youth League setup.
His first notable senior exposure came on February 20, 2020, when he made his professional debut against Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 — a remarkable stage for a 19-year-old. He started and played 73 minutes as Brugge drew 1–1 at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Knowing he needed regular game time, Club Brugge sent him on loan to Westerlo for the 2021–22 season. That decision proved transformative.
De Cuyper helped Westerlo win the Belgian First Division B title and earn promotion to the top flight, chipping in with 6 goals and several assists from left-back across 28 appearances.
He stayed for a second loan season in 2022–23, this time competing in the Belgian Pro League, where he posted an outstanding 9 goals and 7 assists in 41 appearances — elite numbers for a full-back.
Professional Career
After two productive loan spells at Westerlo, De Cuyper returned to Club Brugge and quickly established himself as a key player.
In 2023–24, he made 55 appearances across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and contributing to Brugge’s Belgian Pro League title win.
He was one of the standout full-backs in the country, combining overlapping runs, a powerful left foot, and defensive solidity in a way few players in Belgium could match.
The 2024–25 season brought him even more recognition. He made another 54 appearances, helped Brugge win the Belgian Cup, and earned consistent call-ups to the Belgium national team.
His performances across UEFA competition also gave him valuable European experience, which made him an attractive transfer target for Premier League clubs.
On July 5, 2025, Brighton & Hove Albion confirmed the signing of De Cuyper on a five-year contract for a reported fee of around £17.5 million (€20 million) from Club Brugge.
He made his Premier League debut on August 16, 2025, in a 1–1 draw against Fulham. As of March 2026, he has already made 24 appearances for Brighton, scoring 2 goals in the Premier League.
On the international stage, De Cuyper made his senior Belgium debut on June 5, 2024. He was included in Belgium’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024, though he remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament.
He has since become a regular starter, earning 15 senior caps and scoring 4 goals for the Red Devils as of November 2025 — including a strike against Italy in the UEFA Nations League.
Honours:
- Belgian Pro League: 2023–24 (Club Brugge)
- Belgian Cup: 2024–25 (Club Brugge)
- Belgian Super Cup: 2021 (Club Brugge)
- Belgian First Division B: 2021–22 (Westerlo)
Maxim De Cuyper Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Maxim De Cuyper has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
He built this wealth through his professional contracts in Belgium with Club Brugge and Westerlo, and more recently his lucrative five-year deal with Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
Contract
Brighton & Hove Albion signed De Cuyper from Club Brugge on July 5, 2025, on a five-year contract running until June 2030.
According to football transfer data reported by ESPN and confirmed by Brighton, the transfer fee was approximately £17.5 million (€20 million).
The five-year commitment signals strong faith from Brighton in his long-term potential, and the deal aligns with the club’s strategy of signing young European talent before they reach their peak market value.
According to SalaryLeaks, his total gross contract with Brighton is worth approximately £16.9 million over five years, with an additional bonus structure of up to £780,000 per year.
This makes his Brighton deal one of the more substantial contracts for a full-back at the club.
Salary
De Cuyper earns a weekly wage of £55,000 at Brighton & Hove Albion, placing him among the club’s mid-to-top earners. That works out to an annual gross salary of approximately £2.86 million (around $3.6 million or €3.3 million).
This is a significant jump from his earnings in the Belgian Pro League, where even Club Brugge’s top players earn a fraction of what Premier League salaries offer.
According to Capology’s financial tracking, his estimated gross career earnings before Brighton stood at approximately €1.19 million, reflecting the more modest wage structures in Belgian football. Since joining Brighton in the summer of 2025, his annual earning power has increased dramatically, forming the core of his growing net worth.
Career Earnings by Year
| Season | Club | Approx. Annual Salary (Gross) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Club Brugge / Club NXT | ~€80,000 |
| 2021–22 | Westerlo (loan) | ~€120,000 |
| 2022–23 | Westerlo (loan) | ~€250,000 |
| 2023–24 | Club Brugge | ~€380,000 |
| 2024–25 | Club Brugge | ~€380,000 |
| 2025–26 | Brighton & Hove Albion | ~£2.86M (~€3.3M) |
- Note: Belgian Pro League salary figures are estimates based on publicly available career gross data from Capology. Brighton figures are confirmed.
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Assists | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club Brugge | 2019–20 | Belgian Pro League | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 |
| Club Brugge | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 |
| Club NXT | 2020–21 | Belgian First Division B | 20 | 5 | — | 20 | 5 |
| Westerlo (loan) | 2021–22 | Belgian First Division B | 25 | 6 | — | 28 | 6 |
| Westerlo (loan) | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 39 | 9 | 7 | 41 | 9 |
| Club Brugge | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 3 | — | 55 | 5 |
| Club Brugge | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 3 | — | 54 | 4 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2025–26 | Premier League | 23 | 2 | — | 24 | 2 |
| Career Total | 181 | 28 | 227 | 31 |
- Source: Wikipedia / club records
| National Team | Year | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 2024 | 6 | 1 |
| Belgium | 2025 | 9 | 3 |
| Total | 15 | 4 |
FAQs
What is Maxim De Cuyper’s net worth?
Maxim De Cuyper’s estimated net worth is approximately $3 million. He accumulated this through his Belgian Pro League contracts and his five-year Premier League deal with Brighton & Hove Albion.
How much does Maxim De Cuyper earn per week at Brighton?
He earns £55,000 per week at Brighton & Hove Albion, which adds up to roughly £2.86 million per year before bonuses and deductions.
How much did Brighton pay for Maxim De Cuyper?
Brighton paid approximately £17.5 million (€20 million) to Club Brugge to sign De Cuyper in July 2025 on a five-year deal running through June 2030.
How many caps does Maxim De Cuyper have for Belgium?
He has earned 15 senior caps for the Belgian national team and scored 4 goals, including strikes against Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Liechtenstein.
What clubs has Maxim De Cuyper played for?
He has played for Club Brugge (including Club NXT), Westerlo on a two-season loan, and Brighton & Hove Albion, where he currently competes in the Premier League.
