One signing above all the others this summer emphasised the strides Albion have made since moving from Withdean to the Amex.

It was not for the first team, not immediately anyway, but Jack Harper decided they are the best club to nurture his development after six years in the youth system of Real Madrid.

Or rather his sibling did. Amid interest from Premier League Stoke City, Italy and other clubs in Spain, Harper, on the advice of his older brother and agent Ryan, chose the Seagulls.

"He knew all about Brighton," Harper said. "He visited before me, got a feel for it. Obviously my brother is going to recommend the best place.

"I needed a club that really wanted me. I felt that from the first day."

Leaving Real Madrid five years ago for Albion, when they were operating in a converted athletics stadium in League One, would have been like falling off a cliff.

The drop is nowhere near as severe now, not with a Premier League-class stadium and training complex and only one team to look up to in the Championship.

Madrid's C team has been axed. The Seagulls offer the Scottish teenager something out of plausible reach at the Spanish giants - a pathway to a first team career.

Frequenting Valdedebas (the training ground) with superstars like Ronaldo and Gareth Bale might do wonders for your self-esteem but it is also a reminder of how remote the possibility is of breaking through.

Harper, born in Malaga after his parents moved to the Costa del Sol from Barrhead in East Renfrewshire, joined Madrid at the age of 12.

"I was just like a normal Spanish boy, playing in my home town," he said. "I was really close to a move to Seville, then Madrid intercepted it. I couldn't say no to them, they are my favourite team in Spain so I didn't need to think about it.

"That's the age normally that boys get picked up, have to go and live with families or in boarding schools. That's where I was, with another 50 boys. I was the youngest boy there.

"Some of the 50 older than me have made it to lots of big clubs. They called it the fabric, because there are so many players out playing in the first or second division.

"It was great to play there. They have a good philosophy and to get the Spanish game and now learn the English game is good for me.

"Now I'm 19 it's time to look at first team football and hopefully that's what I'm here for. Madrid is a complicated place to be. Most players are there to learn the youth side and then maybe be prepared for the footballing world. To break into the first team is really hard."

Although signed in July, on a two-year contract with the option of a third, Harper has only just started playing for Albion's under-21s.

"I had a complicated injury," he said. "I wasn't sure how long I was going to be out. I've come back surprisingly early.

"I had bone bruising on my knee in my last game in Spain, the semi-finals of the youth cup against Valencia. I got tackled from behind and have been out ever since so it's good to be back and I'm happy to be playing again.

"I had a good two months to adapt off the field. Everyone has been really kind to me. I've found a very nice flat (in Worthing) and now it's just time to do the business on the field."

In which position and for how long that will be in the under-21s remains to be seen.

The 6ft 1ins Harper, a prolific goalscorer for Madrid's juniors, said: "I'm used to playing off the centre-forward. Obviously, every coach and team is different so you have to adapt but I think my role here will be as a No.10, helping the centre-forward, getting into the box and hopefully deliver some goals.

"The immediate aim is helping the under-21s and getting my fitness up. After five months out you don't get your fitness back in one or two games. It will be a slow recovery to get to 100 per cent and then maybe convince the people upstairs.

"I have seen all the first team's home games and they've been very good. The style of play is I would say more Spanish, one-touch football, very fast. I think that suits me.

"It's good to see the home games and where you would fit in and learning off the centre-forwards. It's good to see Bobby Zamora playing and I'm learning every time I watch.

"Everyone knows who he is. He's been about for ever, scoring good goals and important goals."

Harper hopes to be scoring goals for Scotland as well as Albion. He speaks with a Scottish accent and neither his birth certificate nor a snub earlier this year by Scotland under-19s coach Ricky Sbragia, who branded him a luxury player, have dented his sense of patriotism.

Harper said: "I've played in the under-19s and under-17s. With the injury I've missed out at under-21 level.

"Hopefully now I can get in some good performances, the coach of Scotland keeps an eye on me and I'll be back soon.

"My family is Scottish so that's the most important thing. I've got brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, grans, so yeah..Scottish."

If and how soon Harper returns to the international reckoning, or becomes a first team candidate, will be goverened by how he performs in Albion's under-21s under the guidance of coach Simon Rusk.

The club, wary of the inevitable scrutiny accompanying a player with his background, are anxious not to put too much pressure on his shoulders.

Rusk said: "The recruitment team felt he would improve the under-21s and the pedigree of Real Madrid is an obvious one - you are of a certain ilk.

"I saw a little bit of footage, not too much. It was a football club signing, they felt for a longer term-type project he would be somebody well worth bringing in and developing.

"There's a versatile element to him. He has definitely showed a capability to play as a No.10, possibly even a No.9. He's got a nice left foot, so there's scope to possibly see him play in a wider role.

"That will work itself out over a period of time on the training ground and in games.

"Our environment will be different to Real Madrid's. I think he's done well with that. He's come across from Spain and the majority of his life has been spent overseas.

"Just because he speaks good English, although it's helpful it's still a completely different culture, climate and way of living so that will take a period of adjustment.

"He has been very professional and grounded in how he has approached that change of environment. When you are coming into a club and you've spent three months in the treatment room rather than three months on the training pitch it's difficult to bring your personality out into the group.

"But I've found Jack very quiet and conscientious in how he has gone about his work. It's pleasing now that we can start seeing the fruits of his hard work in the treatment room on the green grass and that's where his personality and style of play should flourish."