Steve Sidwell signs new Brighton contract

Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Steve Sidwell has signed a new one year deal with the club.

The ginger haired veteran becomes the second out of contract player to commit to playing Premier League football with the Albion, following in the footsteps of Gaetan Bong.

Beram Kayal’s injury woes last season allowed Sidwell the opportunity to establish himself as a regular starter in the centre of the park and his experience was invaluable in the promotion push.

Given that few of the current squad have much experience of playing regularly in the top flight compared to Sidwell who has spent the majority of his career there with the likes of Chelsea, Aston Villa, Fulham and Stoke City, it’s a solid piece of business.

He also of course scored the goal of the season in 2016-17 with THAT effort from the halfway line at Bristol City.

This is his second spell at the club having originally played a handful of games on loan in 2002-2003.

He returned on a similar temporary arrangement in 2015-16 which became permanent at the end of that season as the club tried to reunite the entire 2003 Albion squad, having already bought back Bobby Zamora along with Nathan Jones and Ben Roberts to the coaching staff.

Unfortunately, the plan was foiled as nobody could locate Graham Barrett, Tony Rougier or Andy Petterson.