Steve Evans says he has captured his top summer transfer target after landing Michel Kuipers.

The former Albion goalkeeper, who was released at the end of the season by Gus Poyet after ten years with the club, has signed a one-year contract and will remain full time.

Evans has worked with the 35-year-old before.

Kuipers played 15 games for him while Evans was manager of Boston United in 2005-06.

He revealed last week that he was interested in being re-united with Kuipers providing the big Dutchman was committed to playing full-time football while he considers an offer from Albion to work behind the scenes.

Evans said: “He was at the top of my list “We have to be very careful with our recruitment, the numbers need to balance and we need to get the right quality of player but this is an exceptional start.

“Michel is well known to me. I have worked with him before and we have kept a fantastic relationship and we always maintained we would like to work with each other again. He is ambitious, still wants success and he will want to be our No.1 “He has exceptional experience, talks and organises his defence very well and has all the key attributes we need if we are to progress.

“ I didn’t believe deep down that I could make it happen but we have. He also comes highly recommended by all his former managers, two of them tried to sign him this week, but he liked the idea of the challenge here.

“He is settled in the area and it will take him about 15 minutes to get here and that has also been a factor in his decision.”

Kuipers won two league winners’ medals with Albion and played for them in the Championship, making 247 appearances in total.

He said: “I am delighted to sign for Crawley and especially Steve Evans who I have the highest regard for, he was a big reason why I decided to sign.

“I have come here to try and help get this football club to the next level and I believe we can do that otherwise I would have chosen one of the many other “I have had a fantastic ten years at Brighton, a club who I love very much. They have a great owner and fantastic supporters and they will always be in my heart.

“I have been fortunate enough to win promotion a few times in my career and I want that again here at Crawley Town but I also know just how difficult that is going to be.”

Evans is hoping to make six or seven further signings after trimming last season’s squad with eight players released or moving on after not accepting new contracts.

bruce.talbot@theargus.co.uk