Albion skipper Lewis Dunk will continue his remarkable journey at his boyhood club after signing a new contract which runs until June 2026.

Just over 13 years ago, Dunk made his senior debut for the Seagulls when their changing rooms was a portacabin, their stadium was a local athletics ground and their training ground was up a university sports field.

Since then Dunk has gone on to establish himself as an ever-present in the side, making 416 appearances, scoring 27 goals. He has also helped Albion to win League One, gain promotion to the Premier League, reach two FA Cup semi-finals, secure their best ever finish in the top flight (sixth) and European football for the first time in the club’s history.

208 of his 416 appearances have come in the Premier League. During the Seagulls six seasons in the Prem, Dunk has only missed 20 games through injury or suspension.

During the last five years Dunk has somehow only been called up twice by England (2018 and 2023) winning one cap in a 3-0 win over the USA at Wembley in November 2018.

It is a journey Dunk and Albion fans could have only dreamt over.

He will now lead Albion in a historic season which will see them play in the Europa League.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi used an apt phrase in regards to Dunk of ‘long live the captain’.

With Dunk being 31-year-old but seeming to get better with age, he is set to continue to work his way up the list of record appearances for Albion.

Dunk currently sits ninth on the list with 416 appearances but could well climb into the top four by the end of the season, given Bert Longstaff in fourth has made 443 appearances. That means Dunk would only need to make 28 appearances to go ahead of him.

The centre-back will now be hoping to lead Albion to another successful campaign not just in the league and cup, but also in Europe.

De Zerbi’s men will have to wait until 1 September to find out who they will be facing in the Europa League group stages.