Ice hockey may be his first love, but Aleksander Barkov is quickly warming up to football – especially Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Florida Panthers captain made a surprise appearance at the Amex Stadium for Brighton's recent clash against Manchester United, and it seems the Seagulls have gained a high-profile fan.

Barkov, a Stanley Cup champion and one of the NHL's most respected players, found his way to the Amex through a connection with Brighton's new head of medicine, Florian Pfab.

"I know Florian through a mutual acquaintance in Canada. He offered me tickets, and here I am," Barkov explained during an interview on the Official Brighton & Hove Albion Podcast.

Aleksander Barkov enjoyed the NHL off-season by attending a Brighton gameAleksander Barkov enjoyed the NHL off-season by attending a Brighton game (Image: BHAFC/Paul Hazlewood)

The Finnish star spent his off-season back home but didn't hesitate when the opportunity arose to attend a Premier League match.

"It's becoming one of my favourite sports. I started doing fantasy football with my buddies back home, and that way I follow a lot more," the 29-year-old admitted.

When asked if he's now a Brighton supporter, Barkov didn't hesitate. "I guess Brighton is my team now," he declared.

He even promised to spread the word back in Florida.

Barkov isn't the first Finnish sports figure to form a bond with Brighton. He was pleasantly surprised to learn about Sami Hyypiä's tenure as the Seagulls' manager during the 2014-2015 season and mentioned he grew up watching the Liverpool player along with Jari Litmanen.

Barkov also declared his interest in Finnish football during the chat at the training ground. He said: "I've been to a lot of Finnish league matches this year. The sport is growing there as well. And there’s a team in my town and they’re doing really well. So, it’s been fun."

As for his experience at the Amex, Barkov was impressed by the facilities and the atmosphere. "Everything I've seen is unbelievable. I'm really excited to be here," he commented.

He also offered advice for young athletes, emphasising the importance of hard work and enjoyment. "You have to enjoy every single day, every single practice, every single match. That way, you'll always love your sport and get better at it," he said.

You can listen to the podcast above or find it here: https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/podcasts.