Adam Lallana’s arrival is a first for Albion.

They have never previously signed a player on a permanent deal who arrives from the reigning champions of the English top fight.

They have brought in former champions like Jimmy Case, Dennis Mortimer,  Tomasz Kuszczak and Bobby Smith.

But club historian Tim Carder has told The Argus he cannot come up with any other reigning champion player of the English league signing for the club.

Wayne Bridge arrived from Manchester City in the summer of 2012 but that was on loan.

Any claim on his behalf to being a champion is tenuous anyway as he did not actually play a minute of City’s title-winning 2011-12 campaign.

Lallana started three matches as Liverpool won the Premier League in 2019-20 and also went on as sub 12 times.

He kept their unbeaten record alive in October with a late equaliser at Old Trafford.

Five key areas in which Lallana can help Albion

Lallana is also a Champions League winner after appearing in three matches with Liverpool en route to their success in 2018-19.

However he did not get on the pitch in the win over Tottenham at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Albion have signed three players who had previously appeared in successful European Cup finals.

They are Case, former Aston Villa skipper Mortimer and ex-Steaua Bucharest defender Stefan Iovan.

The latter went on to complete a unique double when he added the Sussex Senior Cup to his medal haul, playing for Albion Reserves.

Case won four league titles with Liverpool but they had just finished a disappointing fifth, well behind champions Aston Villa, when he made the move to the Goldstone in 1981.

He is the only previous player to arrive at Albion direct from Liverpool on a permanent deal.

Ashley Neal and Joao Teixera both played for the Seagulls on loan stints away from Anfield.