Brighton & Hove Albion have lost a lot of standard-setters this summer, so “the calm power” of Pascal Struijk is a welcome addition to the ranks.The Dutch central defender, signed from Leeds United at the end of June for around £18million, will help to compensate for the departures of several key figures.Long-serving duo Solly March and Adam Webster were released at the end of last season. The Premier League’s record appearances maker James Milner retired and Joel Veltman left when his contract expired at the end of June after unsuccessful talks over a new deal.Those exits were followed last week by club stalwart Andrew Crofts vacating his role as joint assistant manager under Fabian Hurzeler to reunite with former Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi on the Italian’s staff at Tottenham Hotspur.All were model professionals who bought into the ethos of the club, in several cases over the course of many years. The same can be said of Struijk during his eight seasons spent at Leeds after signing as a youth player from Ajax in his homeland in 2018.“When I came to Leeds (in 2024), Pascal was the vice-captain to Ethan Ampadu,” former France international midfielder Josuha Guilavogui tells The Athletic. “He is someone that everyone loves in the dressing room because he’s very calm — the calm power. He is never going to yell at someone, but when he is speaking, everyone listens. Just a few words and everyone will follow.“He doesn’t talk a lot, but because he is massive (190cm — just shy of 6ft 3in), everyone will listen to him. And he is very, very nice. If you need something, Pascal will be there for you. He has a captain’s soul.”Struijk was a big presence on and off the pitch at Leeds (George Wood/Getty Images)Struijk captained newly-promoted Leeds on multiple occasions last season as they recovered from a sticky start under Daniel Farke to eventually finish eight points clear of relegation.Lewis Dunk, Brighton’s long-serving skipper and fellow centre-back, is still a big influence at the age of 34, but Struijk’s leadership skills will be a useful antidote to Jan Paul van Hecke’s June transfer to Tottenham for £52million. Struijk’s compatriot was seen as a natural successor to regular partner Dunk as captain.Guilavogui only spent a season with Struijk in that second-tier title success at Leeds before retiring, but it was long enough to forge a close relationship and an appreciation of what the 26-year-old will bring on and off the pitch to his new employers. Guilavogui was on the guest list when Struijk got married this summer.