Brighton appoint Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager, as the 31-year-old American agrees a three-year deal to become the YOUNGEST coach in Premier League history

Brighton have confirmed the appointment of Fabian Hurzeler as their new permanent manager following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi in May. 

The Seagulls announced on the club's website that Hurzeler had agreed a three-year deal to join the club and will begin work straight away once his work permit is processed.

It means he'll become the youngest manager in Premier League history  at the age of 31, with Chris Coleman previously holding the accolade following his appointment as Fulham boss back in 2003, then aged 32. 

Chairman Tony Bloom wrote: 'From the start of the process to appoint our new head coach, Fabian was always a standout candidate and one who had caught our attention with his exceptional work at St Pauli over the past eighteen months.

'He has a style of play that aligns with how we want a Brighton & Hove Albion team to play, and I'm confident it is one our supporters will appreciate and enjoy.

'Fabian also has an excellent coaching pedigree and has worked with the German federation at various age group levels. We are really excited to start working with Fabian to prepare for the upcoming season.' 

Brighton have been searching for the right candidate to replace Roberto de Zerbi since the Italian left at the end of the season and have held discussions with a number of contenders including their former boss Graham Potter, Steve Cooper and Malmö's Henrik Rydstrom. 

Another target, Kieran McKenna opted to sign a new contract with Ipswich.

Texas-born Hurzeler has been with St Pauli for 18 months - since being appointed as the club's youngest ever coach at the age of 29 - and has just secured promotion and their return to the Bundesliga after a 13-year absence.

He had a lower league playing career with Bayer Munich's reserve side, where he was a teammate of Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can, and similarly with Hoffenheim and 1860 Munich before ending his playing days at just 23. He went into coaching and was awarded his UEFA Pro Licence at 30.

Hurzeler visited Brighton to study de Zerbi's methods last year and is a big admirer of the club's methods.

He has no release clause in his St Pauli contract but an agreement was in place allowing him to hold talks if a top club made an approach.

Brighton deputy  chairman and chief executive Paul Barber added: 'Away from the pressure of the regular season, we have taken our time to get this appointment right and are delighted to have agreed with Fabian to become our new head coach.

'He has already shown in a relatively short space of time as a head coach that he is one of the most innovative coaches working in football, and we are looking forward to getting ready for next season.'