Last updated on .From the section Brighton

Zamora was released by QPR at the end of last season

Veteran striker Bobby Zamora says he turned down an offer from a club that will play in the Champions League this season in order to return to Brighton.

Zamora scored 83 goals in four prolific seasons for the Seagulls before leaving for Tottenham in 2003.

"I had an offer from a Champions League team, and a team who win their league pretty much every year, so it was hard," the 34-year-old told BBC Sussex.

"But Brighton was the only place I really wanted to be."

Zamora, who was a free agent after being released by QPR at the end of last season, warned fans not to expect a repeat of his previous goalscoring feats.

"It was very different back then. We started off in the third division and that was a team that had been together a while," he said.

Bobby dazzler: Zamora's record at Brighton Season Games Goals 1999-00 12 6 2000-01 48 31 2001-02 46 32 2002-03 36 14

"The ultimate goal isn't 30 goals for me, it's making sure the team put in a good performance every week.

"It's a hard league, probably harder than the Premier League in terms of the number of games and the number of teams who could win the league."

Seagulls boss Chris Hughton said Zamora's huge experience had been the key factor in his decision to sign a player he previously worked with at Spurs.

"The deal was done in a very short space of time but that shows the desire on both sides," said Hughton.

"We have to use his experience and knowledge. His game has changed over the years and he's now more of an out-and-out target man who can look after possession, score goals and be an aerial threat.

"He'll be a good influence on the group, but we wouldn't have even considered bringing him in if we didn't think he could have an influence on the pitch."