RICHIE TOWELL HAS signed for Brighton and Hove Albion after agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal with the Championship leaders.

The move was announced early this morning although Towell, 24, will not be eligible to play until January when the transfer window re-opens.

The attacking midfielder was one of the outstanding players in the League of Ireland this season, scoring 29 goals as Dundalk completed a league and cup double, and winning the PFAI Player of the Year award.

Seagulls boss Chris Hughton said: “Richie’s had a wonderful season in Ireland and scored a lot of goals for the champions Dundalk from midfield, and that really caught our eye.

He is something different to the number of very good midfield options we already have here at the club, and I am really looking forward to having him as part of our squad in the New Year.

“He had a lot of good options available for his next move; here in England, in Scotland, in Ireland with Dundalk and in Europe, so we are delighted he has decided to join us.”

Towell, who has been capped by Ireland up to U21 level, started his professional career at Celtic but returned to Ireland and joined Dundalk at the start of the 2013 season.

He won back-to-back league titles and an FAI Cup during his time with the Lilywhites, and was also named PFAI Young Player of the Year in 2013.

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