Talented youngster has moved to Falmer Stadium on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee and will link up with the Seagulls under-23 squad

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient's Steven Alzate tries to get back to tackle Greenwich Borough's Malachi Hudson (pic: Dave Adkins).Leyton Orient's Steven Alzate tries to get back to tackle Greenwich Borough's Malachi Hudson (pic: Dave Adkins). (Image: Archant)

Leyton Orient academy graduate Steven Alzate has completed a sensational move to newly promoted Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

The transfer, for an undisclosed fee, was eventually finalised today and will see the 18-year-old swap Brisbane Road for Falmer Stadium.

O’s head coach Steve Davis spoke recently about how the club’s young players would attract attention and be watched, but most of the speculation had surrounded Tristan Abrahams.

It therefore comes as a slight surprise to see Alzate seal a move to Brighton, although the talent of the teenage is unquestionable.

The versatile midfielder only made 12 appearances for Orient, but his ability was clear to see right from the start - his debut at Stevenage.

Danny Webb, the then-O’s boss, introduced the youngster off the bench with his team losing 4-1 in the pouring rain.

But Alzate’s elegance and class shone through and it didn’t take him long to officially make his mark.

The youngster made his full debut for Orient at Newport County on March 4 and netted his first professional goal after just eight minutes on a terrible pitch.

Alzate, along with O’s other bright youngsters, produced a masterclass on a wet and heavy Rodney Parade surface and the signs were already there that the E10 club had a talent on their books.

The academy graduate, who signed a professional deal at Brisbane Road in September, made three more appearances under Webb before he resigned and Omer Riza took charge.

Riza started Alzate in O’s last seven games of the season and despite club staff and players not being paid on time throughout April and March, the midfielder produced a number of eye-catching displays.

Orient always faced a battle to keep the youngster, who by all accounts is modest and level-headed, with many of his current and old team-mates tipping him for the top.

Alzate will move now into Brighton’s under-23 squad and continue his development at a Premier League club with a good reputation of nurturing youngsters.

Orient will receive a fee for the signature of the teen and are understood to have a sell-on clause in the deal.

Alzate has signed a three-year contract at Brighton with under-23 head coach Simon Rusk praising the midfielder to the official club website.

He said: “We are delighted to welcome Steven into the squad. He is someone who did well to break into the Leyton Orient first team from their academy last season, and adds a new dimension to our attacking options.”

The transfer will understandably be met with sadness, but a huge sense of pride should fill all those associated with the O’s that the club have nurtured a talent like Alzate and everyone at Brisbane Road will watch his career with interest.