Alex Frutos has pledged his future to Albion by signing a new two-year contract without an escape clause.

The French left winger agreed to rip up his existing deal, which had only a year to run and would have allowed him to leave for nothing following Albion's relegation from the Championship.

Fellow French winger Seb Carole exploited the same get-out clause to secure a free transfer move to Leeds on a three-year contract.

Fans feared Frutos would follow Carole through the exit gate at Withdean but chairman Dick Knight acted quickly to avoid a double whammy.

Knight revealed to The Argus last week that he was renegotiating with Frutos and a revised deal has now been thrashed out with the player's agent.

Frutos, signed on a free transfer from Metz last August, made a favourable impression in his first season in English football.

The slightly built 24-year-old scored three goals in 27 Championship starts and nine substitute appearances.

His direct, hard-running style was appreciated by supporters and he managed to see out the rigours of an English campaign more effectively than Carole, whose continental flair faded from the scene as Albion's quest for survival became more desperate.

Frutos, whose eight-month-old son Valentine was born in Brighton, said: "It was a great season for me, not only because of the football but a great experience for me in my life and for my wife and family.

"I want to help the club go back up because I think it's a great club and we need to play in the Championship."

Albion's French winger Seb Carole has completed his free transfer move to Leeds on a three-year contract but may have to play second fiddle at Elland Road to the fit-again Steve Stone.