Brown Ideye joins WestBrom
By Opeyemi Oladunjoye
West Bromwich Albion have signed Nigeria international striker, Brown Ideye from Dynamo Kiev for a club-record transfer fee.
The 25-year-old signed a three-year contract, plus a further year’s option with the club. He is the Baggies’ fifth summer signing and will wear the No.9 shirt.
His transfer fee, though undisclosed surpasses the amount Albion agreed with Sunderland for Stephane Sessegnon last summer. Sessegnon was signed for £6 million while Ideye is speculated to have cost £10 million.
Ideye boasts Champions League experience and 74 goals in 182 career league appearances with his former Ukrainian club.
The English club announced the transfer via their website and twitter account as Head coach, Alan Irvine said: “Brown is a quality striker and I’m looking forward to working with him.
“He’s a strong, quick, powerful player who likes to get in behind defences and has plenty of Champions League and international experience.”
Technical director Terry Burton added: “When I arrived at Albion the recruitment department flagged Brown up as the man at the top of their wish list.
“It is a fantastic signing because of the quality and the potential of the player. I can see that he really wants to be here and that he really wants to be playing in the Premier League.
“He’s a dynamic player who likes to get in behind defenders and he has the pace to do so. He gets himself into good scoring positions in the box and if there are opportunities then he will get on the end of them.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him play for the club and scoring goals.”
In 2013, Ideye helped Nigeria win their third Africa Cup of Nations title, he has five goals in 24 caps for the Super Eagles.
