IPSWICH Town have missed out on a major transfer target after Brighton Albion signed goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak on a free transfer following his release from Manchester United.

Albion boss Gus Poyet said he was delighted to have won the race for the in-demand Polish international, 30.

He told the club’s website: “There were clubs in England and abroad interested in Tomasz, but it says a lot for the ambition of this club that he wanted to sign for Brighton.

“We had been tracking his progress for some time and he will provide real competition to both Casper Ankergren and Peter Brezovan for the goalkeeper’s jersey this coming season – and that can only be a good thing for the team moving forward.”

Kuszczak started his career as a youth player at Slask Wroclaw in his homeland before moving to lower league German outfit Uerdingen in 1999.

He then signed for Bundesliga outfit Hertha BSC two years later but having failed to make a single first-team appearance, he moved to The Hawthorns in 2004.

Catching the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson towards the end of his first season, Kuszczak moved to Manchester United for �2.1m in July 2007 after a season on loan at Old Trafford.