Brighton & Hove Albion appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach Sunday after Graham Potter left for Chelsea earlier in September.

Club chairman Tony Bloom lauded the Italian's "exciting and courageous brand of football" as the Seagulls look to continue their strong start to the Premier League season.

De Zerbi, 43, signed a four-year contract on the south coast.

"We looked at a range of excellent candidates, but Roberto was our No. 1 choice from the start and the only person we spoke to," Brighton deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber said.