ALBION have signed midfield powerhouse Somen Tchoyi from Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg for an undisclosed fee.
The versatile Cameroon international, who can play anywhere in midfield, has passed a Hawthorns medical and penned a two-year contract, plus an extra year’s option in the club’s favour.
It brings a successful end to the Baggies’ lengthy pursuit of the 27-year-old.
Albion’s scouting network has been monitoring the Austrian Player of the Year for the past two seasons.
And the club were able to pursue a deal for Tchoyi when a Football Review Panel at the FA agreed to endorse their work permit application on appeal last month.
He flew into England to finalise his move on Wednesday after collecting his visa from the British Embassy in Cameroon.
Tomorrow’s first home game of the season against Sunderland (ko 3pm) will come too soon for Tchoyi, but head coach Roberto Di Matteo is looking forward to seeing the club’s seventh summer signing performing in an Albion shirt in the near future.
« It’s been a drawn-out process due to circumstances out of the club’s control but all the hard work has paid off and I’m delighted to welcome Somen to the club, » said Di Matteo.
« He is a powerful midfielder who will bring a physical presence to our team and also be a real threat at set pieces.
« Somen has all the attributes to play in the Barclays Premier League but I think it is important we don’t expect too much too soon from him as he will need a little time to adapt to English football.
« He also won’t be sharp enough to be involved tomorrow as he has had to do a lot of travelling in the past few weeks which means he hasn’t been able to train regularly. »
Sporting & Technical director Dan Ashworth added: « A lot of work had already gone into signing Somen before news of our interest became public and we’re delighted he’s now joined us.
« At the end of last season, Robbie highlighted the need to add some physical presence to our midfield.
« Somen certainly fits the bill on that score and arrives with plenty of European and international experience. »
Tchoyi helped Red Bull win successive Bundesliga titles.
Capped 14 times by Cameroon, he joined Salzburg in 2008 after spending the previous four years playing for Odd Greenland and Stabaek in Norway, winning the Norwegian Player-of-the-Year Award with the latter in 2007.
