Striker Baldock joins Albion

Sam Baldock. Picture by Geoff Penn/BHAFC

STRIKER Sam Baldock joined Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal from Bristol City last night.

The 25-year-old marksman, who won the League One Golden Boot last season, passed a medical at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre yesterday afternoon.

Albion boss Sami Hyypia said: “Sam was one of our key summer attacking targets and I’m delighted we have now completed the transfer and to be able to welcome him to the club.

“Alongside our existing forwards, he will give us another attacking option and we hope he will continue to score goals for Brighton.

“He’s a predator, instinctive in front of goal and his career goal record is excellent. He’s played and scored goals at this level, and we are confident he can be a major threat for us going forward.”

Baldock began his career as a trainee at Wimbledon, and remained with the club when they relocated to Milton Keynes in 2003. He made his debut for MK Dons in 2005, but his breakthrough season came in 2008-09, when he scored 13 goals in 44 appearances.

He went on to score 43 goals in 124 appearances for the Dons, before joining West Ham United in 2011. Finding first team opportunities limited at Upton Park, Baldock joined Bristol City the following year in a £1.1m move.

He scored ten goals in the Championship as Bristol City were relegated, and in the 2013-14 season Baldock hit 24 league goals to finish as League One’s leading scorer.