Albion have pulled off a transfer coup by capturing Scottish starlet Jack Harper from Spanish giants Real Madrid – subject to international clearance.

The versatile 19-year-old forward has signed a two-year contract with the Seagulls but will not be available for several weeks while he recovers from a knee injury.

Scottish youth international Harper was born in Malaga after his parents moved to the Costa del Sol.

The 6ft 1ins prospect, who can play through the middle or out wide, initially joined Madrid at the age of 13 on one-year rolling deals when he was on the brink of signing for Sevilla.

Harper impressed in Madrid's youth system with his technical ability and goalscoring prowess and was awarded a five-year contract in 2012.

He top scored with 25 goals for their Juvenil B side two seasons ago before playing last season for the Juvenil A side in the prestigious UEFA Youth League which shadows the Champions League, with each clubs’ youth teams facing each other around the same time as the senior sides meet.

Harper, compared by Scottish football's performance director Mark Wotte to Robin van Persie, was controversially omitted from the under-19 squad earlier this year by coach Ricky Sbragia, who branded him a 'luxury player'.

Sbragia, explaining his decision, said: “At Real Madrid, Jack can float all over the place, which he does. But with us he has to be more disciplined. He's an exceptionally gifted lad but we can't carry him."

The snub alerted Spain but Harper remains committed to representing Scotland. His parents originate from Barrhead in East Renfrewshire and he is part of a promising football family.

Older brother Ryan plays for Spanish third tier side Algeciras and younger brother Mac is with Fuengirola.