Brighton sign striker Will Hoskins from Bristol Rovers

Hoskins made his football league debut with Rotherham at the age of 17

League One champions Brighton have signed striker Will Hoskins from Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old will join the Seagulls on a two-year contract.

Hoskins said: "It's wonderful to become part of a project which is on the up so it's been a very good day for me. I can't wait to get started next season.

"Everyone knows that things can happen at this club so as soon as I became aware that Brighton were interested in me, I had my heart set on coming here."

Hoskins scored 20 goals in 47 appearances for the Pirates this season despite their relegation to League Two.

He continued: "I've had the chance to play against Brighton and saw how the team moves, passes and works first hand. That's something I was really impressed with."

Hoskins began his career at Rotherham, before joining Watford, where he had loan spells with Millwall and Nottingham Forest prior to leaving for the Memorial Stadium in June 2010.

And Brighton manager Gus Poyet says he has been impressed with the striker for some time.

Poyet told the club's website: "We have been monitoring him this season and he had a very good season with Bristol Rovers.

"They were a team that were struggling and he still managed to score 20 goals which shows his ability in front of goal.

"It is known we tried to get him before the loan window closed and we were really close; we decided then that he was a player we wanted in the future."

Hoskins is a timely arrival after the Seagulls' top scorer Glenn Murray revealed he will be leaving the club after turning down a contract offer.

And the Brighton boss had praise for the talent and versatility of the incoming forward.

"He will bring plenty of qualities and a different option for the team up-front," Poyet added.

"He is able to play up front on his own - even though he is not a target man - but he can also play on the shoulder or play wide and cut in, especially from the left, so he is adaptable to playing three strikers up front.

"He's also very good at linking and he's very gifted technically, so he gives us different options depending on the game and the opposition."

Brighton will begin life in the Championship next season at the all-new Amex Stadium after winning League One with 95 points, three clear of second place Southampton.