Graham Potter has called for patience with Moises Caicedo – and explained why he is not going on loan for the rest of the season.

The Ecuador international has signed a four-and-half year deal with Albion.

He will remain in-house and show the Seagulls’ staff what he can do.

Head coach Potter said: “He’s a young midfielder who is physical and athletic, box to box, a little bit different to what we have.

“At the moment I think it’s one for the future because I think the last time he played was the middle of December. He has been on a break.

“It’s quite a complex deal to go through so I think we will have to be patient with him, let him settle in.

“He needs time to adapt to a new country, a new team and a new league. But he’s an exciting, young player.”

Caicedo had been linked with a possible loan move to Union St-Gilloise.

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But Potter said: “The plan is that he will be with us. Of course you have to have a look and see what the right thing is to do for his development.

“But the plan is for him to acclimatise and settle in here with us.”

Potter said he has no immediate hopes or expectations for Caicedo.

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He added: "It wouldn’t be fair for me to put any real expectations on him for the next couple of months.

“The main thing is to settle in and adapt. He’s not coming in to fix any problems for us, that’s for sure.

“He’s here to settle in and get to know us, we get to know him.”