Baggies bring in Ridgewell

Liam Ridgewell: Moves from Birmingham City to West Brom for an undisclosed fee

West Brom have completed the signing of Liam Ridgewell from Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee.

The former Aston Villa defender has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Hawthorns club.

The 27-year-old will not be eligible to make his Baggies debut in Wednesday's Premier League clash with Fulham.

The ex-West Ham stopper made 14 Championship appearances for Blues this season, helping the team to seventh in the table.

Ridgewell is the club's second signing this month following the arrival of Scott Allan from Dundee United.

Experience

Baggies boss Roy Hodgson believes the defender's experience will be of great benefit to the club.

"Liam is a very experienced defender and has the added benefit of being left-sided. We do not have many of those defenders at the club," explained Hodgson.

"He can also play in two positions (left-back and centre-back) and he is used to playing in teams under pressure to get results to stay in the league.

"We hope we won't be one of those teams under pressure but, if we are, it is good to have someone of that experience.

"Liam was a transfer target last summer and since the start of this January but negotiations have been long and arduous which is often the case."