DALE STEPHENS is happy his Premier League dream has been fulfilled with Albion – after pushing for a move to Burnley.

The midfielder makes his 150th appearance for the Seagulls at Turf Moor on Saturday against the club that tried to sign him SIX times.

Burnley repeatedly raised the stakes in the summer 2016 transfer window after they were promoted back to the Premier League and Albion just missed out.

Chairman Tony Bloom stood firm and resisted a final offer worth around £8 million. Stephens, who submitted a transfer request in the closing stages of the window, has gone on to help Albion up and to the brink of Premier League safety.

Stephens told The Argus: “That happened over the last couple of years and the ultimate thing was I wanted to go and play in the Premier League.

“I’m happy with how it turned out and I’m happy I’m a Brighton player in the Premier League.

“At the time it all happened I was 27, 28 and you think ‘am I going to get that opportunity again?’ “But we had a good season the following year and you look back now and it has turned out very well for myself and the team.

“I never felt unappreciated by the club here at all. It was never a case of ever wanting to leave this club.

“It was trying to fulfil the potential of playing in the Premier League.

“I am very thankful that I managed to do it with Brighton.”

Stephens signed a new four-year contract at the end of last season and had been ever-present until suffering a hamstring injury last month.

Albion, unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Burnley, will secure survival with three games to spare on Saturday if they win and Southampton lose at home to Bournemouth.