Albion have completed the loan signing of former England striker Darren Bent from Aston Villa.

Bent passed a medical today and has joined his new team mates for training ahead of Saturday’s game against one of his former clubs, Fulham.

He has joined on what Albion have described as an “initial month’s loan”. The deal takes him through to the end of December.

The move will be greeted with excitement by many Seagulls fans, who have seen their frontmen struggle for goals this season.

Bent, whose career has also taken in Ipswich, Spurs, Charlton and Sunderland, has 152 league goals to his name and scored four times in 13 England appearances.

But he has fallen out of favour at Villa and is keen to secure regular football.

Albion boss Sami Hyypia said: “We are delighted to welcome Darren to the club and I hope he will score plenty of goals for us during his time with us.

“His record speaks for itself. He is a top class striker with a more than 100 Premier League goals with Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland and Aston Villa.

“Three years ago he was a regular in the England squad under Fabio Capello. There is no doubting his ability to score goals.

“He also wants to play regular games and that is evident in his willingness to step down from the Premier League to the Championship.”