The Brighton midfielder has been named the Premier League's Player of the Month for September after playing a central role in the Seagulls' impressive start to the campaign.
His latest recognition has also revived a fascinating question: could Gross be one of the best value-for-money signings in Premier League history?
The numbers make a compelling case.
Gross initially arrived at Brighton in 2017 from German side Ingolstadt for a reported £3m. Seven years later, he left for his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth around £8m.
But his story with Brighton was not finished.
In January 2026, the veteran midfielder returned to the Amex for approximately £1.7m.
Taking those transfers into account, Brighton have effectively made around £3.3m from Gross while benefiting from his enormous contribution on the pitch.
And his influence has gone well beyond goals and assists.
Since his first arrival at the club, Gross has been involved in 85 Premier League goals and has created 562 chances in the competition. Only Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah have created more during that period.
Remarkably, that figure includes the 18 months Gross spent away from the Premier League.
A Brighton bargain who kept delivering
Gross became Brighton's first signing after the club secured promotion to the Premier League.
At the time, he was a relatively little-known German midfielder arriving from a relegated Ingolstadt side.
Few could have predicted the impact he would eventually have on Brighton's rise from newly promoted outsiders to an established Premier League club.
Former England midfielder and BBC pundit Danny Murphy believes the idea that Gross has somehow operated unnoticed throughout his career is misleading.
"The Premier League is shown worldwide, and he has been a part of that for so many years during a time when Brighton have been a shining light," Murphy said.
"You don't have to play for a big-six team to be appreciated in the Premier League. Gross is not under the radar, because people know how good he is."
Gross' statistics underline that consistency.
He has created 562 chances in the Premier League since joining Brighton, while his 483 successful crosses, including corners, are more than any other player in the division during that period.
That is particularly notable because Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Ward-Prowse have attempted more crosses than him.
Gross also ranks fourth for passes played into the box, including crosses, and seventh for assists, with 51.
Across 252 Premier League appearances, he has scored 34 goals.
More than statistics
For those who have watched Gross closely at Brighton, however, his value cannot be measured entirely through numbers.
Johnny Cantor, a BBC Radio Sussex commentator, believes the German belongs in any conversation about the Premier League's most economical signings of the past decade.
"There's an argument Gross is pound-for-pound the best value player in the Premier League over the last 10 years, especially when you look at his goal involvements," Cantor said.
But Cantor believes Gross' influence extends beyond his contribution in matches.
"However, he also drives standards in training, sets a high bar and is a huge influence in the dressing room.
"Technically he is excellent, has superb delivery but also possesses an awareness, popping up in spaces all around the pitch. Managers have leaned on him, team-mates respect him, and fans of all generations adore him.
"He will surely be remembered as one of the best Albion players of the modern age."
That admiration has remained strong among Brighton supporters, particularly after Gross initially appeared to have brought his career with the club to an end.
The Dortmund chapter
Gross' departure for Borussia Dortmund in 2024 was an emotional moment for many Brighton fans.
The midfielder had spent seven seasons with the club and had become closely associated with its transformation into an established Premier League side.
Brighton supporter Maz Mirzadeh compared his departure to an emotional breakup.
"When he left for Dortmund, it was like going through a heartbreak and seeing an ex go back to their childhood sweetheart," Mirzadeh said.
"He's outrageously good and massively underappreciated.
"If you watch him play, you would think someone's put him in slow-motion settings, but what he lacks in pace, he makes up in superior football IQ, technical brilliance and working harder than any other player on the pitch."
Gross made 66 appearances for Dortmund, scoring once and providing 17 assists.
Then, on 2 January 2026, Brighton brought him back.
At 34, there were obvious questions about whether his second spell would be little more than a sentimental final chapter.
Instead, he has quickly provided an answer.
"There may have been concerns that he may not have been able to recreate the impact of his first period at the Amex but that has been dispelled already," Cantor said.
Defying age
Gross' start to the current campaign has been particularly striking.
He has been involved in six goals in five Premier League matches, more than any other player in the competition during that period.
Only Chelsea's Joao Pedro can match his overall Premier League goal contribution this season, with both players registering three goals and three assists.
Gross has also created 15 Premier League chances this season, the highest figure in the division, helping Brighton climb to third in the table.
His physical output has been just as notable.
The midfielder has covered almost 60 kilometres in the Premier League this season, with only Everton teenager Harrison Armstrong running farther.
Gross has also played every minute for Brighton in all competitions so far, featuring in all eight of the club's matches.
That workload is even more remarkable given his age.
He is now the sixth-oldest player to win the Premier League Player of the Month award.
Football intelligence over pace
Gross' longevity has been built around an understanding of the game rather than raw athleticism.
Murphy believes the midfielder has developed an increasingly intelligent style as he has aged, learning to maximise his strengths while avoiding situations that expose his limitations.
"He's an intelligent footballer, with a great football IQ.
"You can see that he has grown into that version of himself over the years. That happens in football - it happened to me - when you know what you can't do, as much as you know what you can do.
"So, you don't see him trying to beat people on the outside with his pace. Instead he loves a little chop, or a Cruyff turn to give himself space and time, or to play a quick first-time pass around the corners. That's why he always seems to be in space."
His versatility has also remained an important part of his value.
"His versatility tells you about his intelligence as well. He is able to play as a full-back, central midfield or, recently, as more of a 10. He is scoring and making goals," Murphy added.
Gross' international career is over, having retired from Germany duty after the World Cup, but his club career continues to gather another remarkable chapter.
"I am sure this won't be his last season with Brighton but, even if it was, he is already going to be remembered as one of the Brighton greats by their supporters for what he has given so far to the club, especially with him coming back and doing what he is doing. It is nothing short of remarkable," Murphy said.
A modern Brighton icon
Gross' career at Brighton has followed the club's own extraordinary journey.
He arrived as an inexpensive signing from a relegated German club and became a key figure as Brighton established themselves in the Premier League.
He left for one of Germany's biggest clubs, returned at an age when many players would be considering retirement, and immediately resumed his role as one of Brighton's most influential performers.
For supporters, his return has made the story even more special.
Mirzadeh summed up the admiration surrounding the midfielder:
"Even in his 'unc' era, he's showing the Premier League's elite how it's done.
"If he was called Pascal Silva and played for a top-six club he might get the recognition and respect he truly deserves."
For now, Gross continues to let his football make the argument.
At 35, the Brighton midfielder is not merely surviving in the Premier League. He is once again shaping games, creating chances, scoring goals and setting the standard for those around him.