Not conceited in any way. A normal, cool guy.

So reads the character reference we have on Pascal Gross from a media contact who knows him well.

The German midfielder is preparing for life with Albion after agreeing a four-year contract.

He might have to live with the spotlight on him as the first signing of the new Premier League era.

It appears he speaks English well, having studied the language to the equivalent of A-level standard. Again, that is good news.

Details of Albion’s recruitment process remain a closely guarded secret and understandably so but their background checks will have been thorough, no doubt about that.

They will have to be because Gross represents something of new ground for a recruitment team whose success rate over the last two-and-a-half years has been reassuringly high.

Gross comes to England as the main man in a side who, until this season, did in the Bundesliga what the Seagulls will hope to do in the Premier League.

The Argus:

Ingolstadt fans and players say farewell to Pascal Gross

Promoted, then an 11th place finish. And then it started to go wrong, culminating in their recent relegation.

Despite tough times, it appears Gross grew as a character during that period, being their main source of goalscoring chances.

We have been told how he was one of two or three players who, it was clear, would move if his side went down.

Again, that has to be good news.

Because, in coming from his homeland at the age of 25, or 26 next month, he is a just a bit different to Albion’s successful signings from overseas in recent years.

Just look at Leo Ulloa, Tomer Hemed, Beram Kayal, Anthony Knockaert, Tomasz Kuszczak, Andrea Orlandi. There is a pattern there.

All took that big step away from their home nation before coming to the Amex. They had dipped their toes in overseas waters before Albion snapped them up.

Others, like Bruno, Uwe Huenemeier (above) and David Lopez had not. But they were hugely experienced players.

Vicente fits that second category too but I am not sure he ever fully settled into England or English life – and certainly not the rigours of the Championship.

Jiri Skalak had come straight from the Czech Republic and has had his moments.

But Gross will have to make a more dynamic transition than Skalak and at a higher level.

I’m struggling to think of a player of relatively young age, just coming to his peak, as is Gross, who has been brought in from his home area and given the sort of responsibility I’d imagine the new boy will have.

Fitting in will be key. Albion will have done their checks on that.

A less scientific snapshot from late last Saturday afternoon at the Audi Sportpark might underline he will be a good pick.

Gross, by now Ingolstadt’s record-breaking player sale and a man whose profile in England had rocketed in the space of 24 hours, did not slip off to some VIP location after his last game.

Along with team mates, he joined fans, sipped a bottle of beer and chatted with them about the new venture and old times.

That no-airs-and-graces demeanour should sit well with his new club.