Just in case anyone still has any doubts, the capture of Vicente confirms the astonishing progress Albion have made under Gus Poyet.

This time last year the Seagulls signed another Spaniard in similar circumstances.

Fran Sandaza cancelled his contract with Dundee United to become a free agent. He also joined Albion just after the August transfer window had shut.

The similarities end there. Sandaza was a willing but technically limited striker, signed to add firepower to Poyet's League One attack.

He was a fringe figure throughout last season's title success, unable to dislodge the free-scoring Glenn Murray and Ashley Barnes.

Sandaza is best remembered for a scrappy late goal at Withdean as a substitute against Oldham in September, which first took Albion to the top of the table.

Now back in the underwhelming Scottish Premier League with St Johnstone, he was also at Valencia but he would not have crossed paths too often with Vicente.

While Sandaza's irregular appearances were restricted to the B team, Vicente was busy helping the senior side to two La Liga titles, The Copa del Rey (Spanish FA Cup), the UEFA Cup and the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

He also represented his country at all age groups, winning three of his 38 caps in Euro 2004 in Portugal.

The contrast in class between the Spaniard signed by Albion 12 months ago and the one they have just acquired could not be more obvious.

Even in such exalted company, Vicente stood out. Claudio Ranieri, the former Valencia and Chelsea manager, said of him: "It is clear that he is one of the best players.

"Some footballers are a little more than others and Vicente is one of them."

Vicente is 30 now and has suffered one or two injury problems which rather soured his 11-year relationship with Valencia, during which he amassed 50 goals in 319 games.

He may not quite be the force he once was but even if he is still half as good as in his mid-Twenties pomp then Poyet has just pulled off the best value-for-money signing of the transfer window, within Albion's wage budget and without a fee.

Poyet may have missed out on robust Leeds striker Billy Paynter but the table-topping Seagulls still look very well equipped now to sustain a challenge in the Championship.

A sound defence will be bolstered soon by the returns from injury of Adam El-Abd and Tommy Elphick.

Competition at the back will be fierce but nothing like as fierce as in the front six.

Liam Bridcutt, Ryan Harley and Craig Mackail-Smith are probable regulars, together with Vicente if his billing is matched by current form and fitness.

That leaves Craig Noone, Kazenga LuaLua, Will Buckley, Ashley Barnes, Will Hoskins, Gary Dicker, the versatile Romain Vincelot, Matt Sparrow and Alan Navarro all fighting for just two spots.

Poyet has some difficult and yet enviable choices to make, not just in selecting his team but also his five substitutes in the Championship.

Consider the strength of a reserve side he could now field. Brezovan in goal, Vincelot and Taricco the fullbacks, El-Abd and Elphick the central defenders.

Navarro the sitting midfielder, accompanied by Dicker and Sparrow and a front three of Buckley, Hoskins or Barnes and LuaLua.

Sandaza was accompanied on the bench in that game against Oldham 11 months ago by Cristian Baz, Agustin Battipiedi and Jamie Smith.

The League One title winning squad was good, very good. Poyet has lost from it Murray and the influential Elliott Bennett but Vicente's arrival, together with the manager's earlier summer transfer business, is a compelling reminder of far how Albion have come in the space of a year.