Albion have signed Chelsea teenager Fikayo Tomori as defensive back-up for their Championship promotion bid.

The 19-year-old right-back has joined the Seagulls for the rest of the season after passing a medical at the Lancing training complex this evening.

Boss Chris Hughton has landed the versatile, Canadian-born prospect as extra security and to enable Albion's own young prospect, Rob Hunt, to go out on loan.

Hughton said: "We have brought in Fikayo on loan to provide us with some additional cover in the full-back positions.

"He is a highly-rated young full-back, by both Chelsea and England. He is predominantly a right-back, but he can play in any position across the back four and will give us good defensive cover for the first team for the second half of the season.

"Currently we have a few minor injury issues in the full-back positions, so his arrival will also allow us to send Rob Hunt out on oan to gain valuable playing experience.

"At this stage of Rob's development it will benefit his long-term progression to be playing regular senior football."

Tomori has represented Canada and England at youth level. He is also eligible to play international football for Nigeria through his parents.

He has been with Chelsea since the age of eight and made his senior debut in the final match of last season against Premier League champions Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.

Tomori has been a regular in Chelsea's under-23s over the past two seasons. He helped the Blues win back-to-back FA Youth Cups and successive UEFA Youth League Finals in 2015 and 2016.

He was also named in the UEFA European Team of the Tournament last summer for an impressive campaign with England's under-19s.

Bruno, Albion's regular right-back and captain, is expected to return from a groin injury against Cardiff at the Amex tomorrow night.

Liam Rosenior, who can play at right-back or left-back, continued his comeback from long-term ankle damage in the under-23s at Nottingham Forest tonight.

First-choice left-back Gaetan Bong is nursing a knee injury, so West Brom loanee Seb Pocognoli deputises again against Cardiff.

Albion also have young left-back Sam Adekugbe on loan from the season for Vancouver Whitecaps. He made his league debut in the Seagulls' recent defeat at Preston.