Albion have beaten 20 clubs to the signature of Manchester United prospect James Wilson.

The England under-21s striker has agreed to join the Seagulls on loan for the rest of the season.

Clubs in the Premier League, Championship and League One were interested in borrowing Wilson, including some of Albion's second tier promotion rivals.

Wilson has chosen instead to take the same route as Jesse Lingard, who helped Albion into the play-offs on loan from Manchester United two seaons ago and is now in the first team at Old Trafford.

Boss Chris Hughton said: "We have been keen to add a striker and James has been our number one target for some time so we are absolutely delighted to have completed the deal.

"James is an exciting young striker and we hope that this move will prove very good for all parties involved.

"He is very highly thought of at Old Trafford and he has been in and around the first team picture since Ryan Giggs gave him his debut the season before last.

"There was a huge amount of competition from rival clubs to sign James on loan and it has been another great team effort to secure his signature.

"I now hope he will help us maintain our excellent start to the season and bring additional goals to the squad."

Wilson has been with Manchester United since the age of seven and has represented England at every level from under 16 to under 21.

He made rapid progress after beginning the 2013-14 campaign by captaining the club's under-18s, ending it on the fringes of the first team.

Wilson scored twice on his senior debut for United against Hull in May 2014 and netted a further two goals in 17 appearances last term.

He also found the net in matches against QPR and in a 3-0 win over Cambridge United in the FA Cup, and the 19-year-old also scored on his England under-21s debut in a 1-0 win over a USA under-23 side in September.

Wilson, hailed by United chief Louis Van Gaal as one of the "brightest young England prospects" was on the bench for last night's Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford after missing Saturday's win at Watford due to injury.

He played against Arsenal in the Premier League and Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup earlier this season.

Wilson, 20 next Tuesday, will train with his new team-mates for the first time tomorrow morning and will be available for Birmingham's visit to the Amex on Saturday witrh fellow late loan signing Rajiv van La Parra from Wolves.