CRAIG Mackail-Smith, the striker often linked with Ipswich Town, has completed a shock move to newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 27-year-old has completed his move from Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal after Brighton beat off the challenge of Leicester City and West Ham.

Premier League new boys QPR were also said to be interested while Mackail-Smith has long been linked with Ipswich, ever since manager Paul Jewell was seen at a Peterborough match within days of joining the Blues.

But it is Brighton who have snapped up last season’s League One Player of the Year. Seagulls boss Gus Poyet said it was “unbelievable” that his side had brought in his number one transfer target.

Poyet said: “He is going to be a key player for us. He was the best player in League One last year, he scored the most goals, he scored in the play-off final, and he’s got everything we need to help make our strikeforce one of the best.

“He is a striker who scores goals and you will never see a player who can match his workrate - it’s unbelievable. He is so energetic and powerful in what he does that it will rub off on the rest of the squad.

“He is a player that we can build our team around, which is why I was so keen to bring him here, and one of the most pleasing aspects for me is that we have signed him despite interest from some other big, big teams.

“Some thought it was a done deal that he would be heading elsewhere, but we got the player which is good, as it shows that we want to go places.”