Albion will have a team in this summer’s HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens for the first time.

Simon Rusk will select a squad of ten players from his under-23 squad for the annual three-day seven-a-side tournament at Hong Kong Football Club which kicks off on Friday May 18.

Albion will be joined by last year’s winners Leicester City, and also three other English clubs - Aston Villa, West Ham United and Newcastle United - who all compete in the Premier League 2.

The Seagulls will also be joined by various teams from around the world, with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Rangers, Hong Kong FC and PSV Eindhoven having competed in the tournament over recent years.

Seagulls academy manager John Morling said: “Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club are honoured to be invited to the prestigious HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens.

“All the staff and players are looking forward to what will be a brilliant experience both on and off the pitch.

“We’re looking forward to a totally different experience, playing Sevens against some of the world’s best teams, which will benefit our players’ development in their ambition to become senior professional footballers in the Premier League.”

The tournament involves 16 teams competing on pitches that are 90 metres long and 55 metres wide.

The competition begins with a league structure - four groups of four teams - before moving into the knockout stages.