IN-DEMAND striker Lewis Grabban has today committed his future to Cherries by signing a new long-term contract with the club.

The frontman, who this week emerged as a transfer target for Brighton, has put pen to paper on an improved three-and-a-half-year deal at Dean Court following lengthy discussions this morning.

Many had expected Grabban to move to the Amex after the Seagulls tabled a £1.1million bid, triggering a release clause in his previous Cherries contract.

But after Grabban held talks with Brighton and pondered their offer of personal terms, Cherries today confirmed that the 26-year-old had opted to stay in Dorset.

The news comes as a major boost for Cherries as Grabban, who has also been linked with Leicester, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Reading, leads the club’s goalscoring charts with 10 in 24 league games so far this term.

Grabban, who joined Cherries in a £300,000 move from Rotherham in July 2012, had previously been contracted to Cherries until June 2016 after signing a fresh deal as recently as November.

After turning his back on a move to commit his future to the club, the 26-year-old could now be in the frame to feature when Cherries host Watford in the Championship at Dean Court this afternoon (3pm).