Lewis Dunk has pledged his future to Albion by signing a new five-year contract.

The dramatic turnaround follows four bids from Championship rivals Fulham for Dunk, the last in excess of £5 million.

It also comes after the Argus revealed today Dunk had been fined two weeks wages by the Seagulls for refusing to play in the Capital One Cup tie at Southend earlier this month.

Dunk, 23, said in a statement released by the club this evening: "I am absolutely delighted to commit my long-term future to the club.

"I know there has been a lot of speculation but I have been with this club for a long time and genuinely had little desire to go anywhere else.

"The manager and club made it clear that they see me as an important part of the future and seeing that desire to keep me here made it an easy decision in the end.

"The constant speculation in the media was something new and something I am not really used to but I am pleased to put it behind me and be able to concentrate on my football again.

"My focus now is to help the club continue the excellent start we have made to the new season and ultimately to help Albion achieve the aim of playing football in the Premier League."

Boss Chris Hughton told The Argus earlier today that Dunk is in contention to start tomorrow night's Capital One Cup second round tie at Walsall.

Hughton said: "We made it clear to Lewis that both the club and I saw him as a key player for us and a big part of this club's future.

"For me, as manager, what is really encouraging was the desire shown by the club to extend his contract - given the level of interest from elsewhere.

"We have made it consistently clear throughout this transfer window that we wanted to keep hold of our best players and I know that isn't always easy when clubs with much bigger resources than ours express an interest in our players.

"That is our aim, to enhance and build on what we have here, and with that in mind I would like to thank the club and in particular the chairman Tony Bloom for ensuring Lewis's long-term future with us.

"Lewis has been fantastic for me from the first moment I came into the football club and with the additions in that area, it means we are now very strong in the defensive part of the squad and team."