Tomer Hemed signed new Albion deal after reassurances he was in Premier League plans

The Israeli striker has committed his future to the club until the end of next season, replacing a deal due to expire in June.

Reading and several other Championship sides were keen to buy Hemed, 30, during the summer transfer window.

Albion failed in their attempts to land another frontman – but Hemed had already made his mind up to stay after talks with boss Chris Hughton.

Hemed revealed to The Argus: “Of course, on the last day of the transfer window, when everyone saw that maybe I would go, it was just good to hear from the gaffer, the staff, that they wanted me here.

“They said if I stayed I would get the chance to compete for a place, so I said I’m staying.

“On my first day I said I came to Brighton to play in the Premier League. It was weird then for people to hear but, now we have achieved it, I didn’t want to leave so early, I wanted to try to show I am a Premier League player and deserved to be here.

“I’m happy I took this decision. Maybe in other situations people would say ‘Okay someone else wants to pay a lot of money for me, I will go’.

“But for me the target I put in front of my eyes was the Premier League. I just wanted the chance to show I am good enough to play at this level and now I think everyone knows that I am good enough and I can be a good Premier League striker.

“A lot of teams from the Championship wanted me after the last two seasons but for me for now I’m just focused on the Premier League. I didn’t want to give up that chance.

Hughton said: “I’m delighted, because he has been a big influence on the team in the last two seasons and with the goals we have needed to get promotion.

“It was perhaps a little bit more difficult for him last season but he is always there pushing away. When you get players like that you want to get them tied down.

“And I‘m really delighted for him. He wants to be here. It gives him that little bit more security and it’s a contract he deserves.”