Pascal Alexander GroÃÂ (born 15 June 1991) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or full-back for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Germany national team.
A versatile player, GroÃÂ has played as a defensive-midfielder, right-back, attacking-midfielder, winger, or forward in his career. He was Brighton's all-time top scorer in the Premier League until 2025, when he was overtaken by Danny Welbeck.
GroÃÂ played for Germany at youth international level. He was called up to the senior squad for the first time aged 32 in August 2023, and made his debut on 9 September 2023 in a friendly against Japan. He was selected for the German final squad at the UEFA Euro 2024.
Groàplayed his first fully professional match in the Bundesliga for 1899 Hoffenheim on 2 May 2009 in a 0âÂÂ4 loss against VfL Wolfsburg. being substituted on in the 89th minute for Chinedu Obasi. He scored his first senior career goal playing for Hoffenheim II playing against Stuttgarter Kickers II on 16 August 2009. In January 2011, he transferred to Karlsruher SC along with Hoffenheim teammate Marco Terrazzino.
In the summer of 2012, Groàjoined FC Ingolstadt on a two-year deal. In the 2014âÂÂ15 season, he played a vital role in the promotion of FC Ingolstadt to the Bundesliga as he scored 7 goals and assisted 23 goals.
Groàscored five league goals for FC Ingolstadt in the 2016âÂÂ17 season as they were relegated from the Bundesliga. He created more chances than any other player in the league that season, a total of 95 chances.
In May 2017, Brighton & Hove Albion signed Groàfor a fee of ã3 million. He agreed to a four-year contract while the transfer fee paid to Ingolstadt was the first of a series of record signings for the club that season. He made his debut for Brighton in the Premier League on 12 August 2017, in a 2âÂÂ0 home defeat to title favourites Manchester City. On 9 September 2017, Groàmade history by scoring Brighton's first ever Premier League goal, adding a second shortly after half time and providing an assist for Tomer Hemed in a 3âÂÂ1 win at home against West Bromwich Albion. On 15 September, in Brighton's 2âÂÂ1 league defeat away to AFC Bournemouth, Groàprovided the assist for Solly March's opening goal.
GroÃÂ's creative exploits for Brighton throughout the month of September earned him a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Month award. He was a key player for Brighton, being directly involved in four of their league goals scored throughout the month.
On 15 October 2017, Groàprovided his third assist of the season for Brighton, setting up Anthony Knockaert in a 1âÂÂ1 league draw at home to Everton. On 20 November, Groàscored for Brighton in a 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Stoke City. The goal brought his contribution tally up to three goals and five assists throughout the course of the season. Groàended a successful season for Brighton with seven goals and eight assists, including heading the winner against Manchester United on 4 May 2018, a win that secured Brighton's Premier League status. Amongst many highlights, Groàwas voted Brighton's player of the season by an overwhelming majority.
On 6 June 2018, GroÃÂ signed a contract extension with Brighton, keeping him at the club until 2022.
He scored against Manchester United again in another win over the side on 19 August 2018 in Brighton's first win of the 2018âÂÂ19 season netting the Albion's third in a 3âÂÂ2 home victory. Groàscored three goals from 4 May 2018 to 19 January 2019 which all came up against Manchester United. His third coming in a 2âÂÂ1 away loss at Old Trafford. He made one FA Cup appearance where he came off the bench in a 2âÂÂ1 home win over Derby County that took his team into the quarter-finals. The Sussex club were eventually knocked out by Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley.
On 27 April 2019, he scored an equaliser at home against Newcastle United, helping Brighton claim a point in their fight for survival. On 4 May 2019 Brighton's bitter rivals, Crystal Palace beat Cardiff City â Brighton's relegation rivals â which ensured Brighton's Premier League football for the next season.
Groàplayed the whole of Brighton's opening match of the 2019âÂÂ20 season, a 3âÂÂ0 win at Watford. On 5 October, a Groàcross was spilt by Tottenham Hotspur's keeper, Hugo Lloris, and Neal Maupay nodded home the first in a 3âÂÂ0 victory over the London side. Lloris dislocated his elbow after an awkward landing from the cross which would rule him out for the rest of 2019. Groàscored his first goal of the season to open the scoring in a 3âÂÂ2 home win over Everton on 26 October 2019.
Groàmade his 100th appearance for and captained the side in a 2âÂÂ0 away win over Preston North End in the EFL Cup on 23 September 2020. He scored his first goal of the season on 28 November, a 93rd-minute penalty to claim Brighton's first Premier League points against the defending champions Liverpool. In the reverse fixture Groàappeared in Brighton's 1âÂÂ0 away victory over Liverpool on 3 February 2021 to claim their first league win at Anfield since 1982. Groàcaptained Brighton on 18 May with Lewis Dunk out suspended in the match against champions Manchester City with fans returning to football. He assisted Adam Webster's header which tied the score at 2âÂÂ2 â from 2âÂÂ0 down â in which Brighton won 3âÂÂ2 for their first victory over City since 1989.
Groàset up Alexis Mac Allister's winner with a grounded pass into the box in the 2âÂÂ1 away victory over Burnley on 14 August in the opening game of the 2021âÂÂ22 season. He then assisted Shane Duffy's header from the corner spot in Brighton's 2âÂÂ0 home victory over Watford on 21 August in the second game of the season. Groàhad a penalty saved by Jack Butland in the home fixture against bitter rivals Crystal Palace on 14 January 2022, failing to put Brighton 1âÂÂ0 up in an eventual 1âÂÂ1 draw.
On 7 May, he scored his first goal of the campaign, calmly steering in Brighton's third in a 4âÂÂ0 victory over Manchester United earning Brighton their biggest ever top-flight victory. Groàscored again two games later, his second and the last of the season on the final day of the campaign, putting Brighton ahead after they trailed at half time in the 3âÂÂ1 home victory over West Ham United. He later assisted Albion's third goal, a Danny Welbeck strike, who happened to set up GroÃÂ's goal. The victory meant they achieved their highest-ever top-flight finish, finishing ninth.
On 3 June, it was announced that he had signed a new contract with Albion, signing on until June 2024. Graham Potter was pleased by GroÃÂ's extension, commenting "I am delighted for Pascal and the club that he's now signed," adding "He is an excellent professional on and off the pitch."
On the opening day of the season Groàscored both goals against Manchester United in the 2âÂÂ1 away win to claim Brighton's first ever victory at Old Trafford, which gave him three in two games against United and four overall. Groàscored in Brighton's first home win of the season, as they beat Leeds United 1âÂÂ0. Groàcaptained Brighton to a 5âÂÂ1 away thrashing of Championship team Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup on 7 January 2023. The opening goal was his first ever FA Cup goal. Groàmade his 200th appearance for Brighton on 15 March, as Albion beat Crystal Palace 1âÂÂ0 at Falmer Stadium.
On 19 April, Groàsigned a contract extension to run until 2025. Roberto De Zerbi was very delighted with the announcement and cited Groàas "...one of the secrets to AlbionâÂÂs success." Four days later, he played the full 120 minutes in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley and scored a penalty in the shootout which Brighton lost. During the midweek after the FA Cup semi-final defeat, Groàscored his first Premier League own goal putting Nottingham Forest back level in the 3âÂÂ1 loss. Groàresponded with a brace over Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping Brighton to a 6âÂÂ0 thrashing, their biggest Premier League victory. He scored his 10th goal of the season on 21 May, putting Brighton back to two goals in front of Southampton in the 3âÂÂ1 home win which secured Brighton a European spot for the first time in their history. The strike put him level with Glenn Murray and Neal Maupay as Brighton's all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League with 26 goals.
On 26 August 2023, Brighton's third match of the season, Groàscored his 27th Premier League goal, becoming the club's all-time top scorer in that league, but his goal was a consolation in a 3âÂÂ1 defeat at home to West Ham United. He scored Brighton's first ever away goal in Europe on 5 October, as they came back from 2âÂÂ0 down to draw 2âÂÂ2 at Marseille in the Europa League. He finished second only to Bruno Fernandes among the top players with most chances created in the league.
On 1 August 2024, GroÃÂ joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, signing a contract until June 2026.
On 11 February 2025, Groàscored his first goal for Dortmund in a first leg 3âÂÂ0 away victory over Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League round of 32. On 22 February, he assisted four goals in a 6âÂÂ0 home victory over Union Berlin, becoming the third player in Bundesliga history to ever do that.
At the end of the season he took part at the FIFA Club World Cup with Dortmund, with whom he reached the quarter-finals, eventually getting knocked out by Real Madrid with 3âÂÂ2.
His time at Borussia Dortmund ended after a season and a half with 66 matches played, a goal scored and 17 assists provided.
On 2 January 2026, Groàrejoined Brighton, signing a deal until June 2027. Explaining his decision to come back to the Amex, Groàsaid: "Since I wasn't getting much playing time in Dortmund, I wanted to go back to a place where I could have more influence and play more regularly, so I could also put myself forward for the World Cup." In the same month he would score his first goal since returning to the club in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Everton.
GroÃÂ has represented Germany at youth level for the under-18, under-19 and under-20 national teams.
On 31 August 2023, Groàreceived his first call-up to the Germany senior national team by head coach Hansi Flick, for friendlies against Japan and France. He made his debut on 9 September, coming on as a 64th-minute substitute in the eventual 4âÂÂ1 home loss against Japan and went on to make his first start for Germany in a 3âÂÂ1 friendly win over the United States on 14 October.
Groàwas named in Germany's squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He scored his first international goal in a pre-tournament friendly against Greece on 7 June, a 2âÂÂ1 winner in the 89th minute. Only Richard Kress was older when scoring his first goal for Germany.
GroÃÂ can operate as a central midfielder, winger, attacking midfielder and right-back. He is an accomplished set-piece taker, known for his accurate corner kicks and free kicks.
GroÃÂ's father Stephan was also a footballer who played for Karlsruher SC.
FC Ingolstadt
Individual