Ayari has spent the September international break both defending his own future at Brighton and marvelling at how his brother-in-law, Dejan Kulusevski, has handled 16 months on the sidelines.
Kulusevski, who tore his knee in May 2025 and required a second operation in March, is now back in full training at Tottenham and, according to Sweden head coach Graham Potter, "very close" to a competitive return, though not yet ready for this squad. Ayari, who is engaged to and has a child with Kulusevski's sister Sandra, told Sportbladet he has learned a great deal from watching him fight his way back.
He said, "It's incredible how strong he's been throughout this journey, not many people could have kept fighting and stayed happy while going through so much. It's not normal, he's very mentally strong and I learn a great deal from him. He's started training and that's progress.
"I'm happy for his sake, that he can come back and do what he loves. I hope it goes well once he's 100% back."
Ayari's own situation has attracted plenty of speculation of its own. The 22-year-old midfielder, who joined Brighton from AIK in January 2023, is under contract until the summer of 2027, with the club holding an option to extend that to 2028 and no deadline attached to triggering it. There was interest from Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray earlier this month, while Liverpool and Chelsea have also been credited with tracking him, but Ayari played down any prospect of a move.
"I feel good in Brighton. I'm under the contract I'm under. I will always do my best for as long as I play for the club. There's nothing more to it. I feel good where I am right now."
His numbers have dipped this season, with one goal in four Premier League appearances after three goals and three assists in 29 league games last term, but the club around him has thrived: Brighton's 3-0 win over Arsenal took them to ten points and third place after five games. Ayari has become an important voice for the pathway between AIK and Brighton that has also brought Zadok Yohanna and Malick Yalcouyé to the Amex, and when asked who Brighton should sign next from his old club, he did not hesitate.
"My brother."
His younger brother, Taha Ayari, 21, is under contract at AIK until the end of the 2028 season. Yalcouyé, who joined from IFK Göteborg in the summer of 2024 after loan spells at Sturm Graz and Swansea City, has scored twice in five Premier League appearances this season after an unplanned full debut against Chelsea in Ayari's absence, form Ayari says has taken even those closest to the club by surprise.
"It's absolutely brilliant. I don't think many people expected it. It came a bit out of nowhere too. He wasn't supposed to start against Chelsea, but got the nod because I couldn't play. Then he managed to do incredibly well and has just taken off since. It feels like he's got better game by game."
Yohanna, who became Allsvenskan's most expensive departure of all time when he joined from AIK over the summer, has made one substitute appearance before picking up an injury, and Ayari says he is doing what he can to help him settle.
"It's fun having someone who's played in Sweden and with my brother at AIK. It's great that he's come to Brighton and plays with us. I try to help him as much as I can. It's gone well for him and he's been good in training. He's been injured now, but it's gone well."