ALBION'S spending has soared to over £100 million as owner Tony Bloom bids to establish the club in the Premier League.

The record £17 million capture of Iran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh from AZ Alkmaar has increased the total splashed out by the Seagulls on transfer fees to nine figures.

The record has now been broken five times across three transfer windows since promotion in April 2017.

The Jahanbakhsh deal has eclipsed the outlays for Jurgen Locadia (£14 million), Jose Izquierdo (£13.5 million), Davy Propper (£10 million) and Mathew Ryan (£5.2 million).

More than £50 million has been spent so far this summer on eight additions to the squad Chris Hughton guided to safety in May with two matches to spare.

Brazilian left-back Bernardo and Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma account for a combined total of over £20 million.

Jason Steele, David Button, Leon Balogun, Florin Andone and Percy Tau have each been signed for amounts ranging from free transfers to just over £5 million.

Albion bought a similar number of players last summer. The addition of Locadia in January took last season's spending to more than £50 million.

The overall figure will rise further as Hughton is intent on bringing in another central defender before the window closes on August 9 and Albion launch their second campaign in the Premier League at Watford 48 hours later.

Preparations continue with tomorrow's friendly at Hughton's old club Birmingham (3pm).

Jahanbakhsh, Andone and Izquierdo are all likely to play a part in a friendly behind closed doors away to Patrick Vieira's Nice on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Albion are closing in on adding Ecuador prospect Billy Arce to their under-23s squad.

The 20-year-old striker from Independiente del Valle is expected to sign a four-year deal before joining Spanish second division outfit Albacete on loan.