West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing of Jay Rodriguez, for an initial fee of £12million which could rise to £15million.
The Baggies had been linked with the Southampton striker for the past few weeks, and they replied to a fan on Twitter to confirm they have now signed the England international cap. Further details have since come to light, confirming the 27-year-old has signed a four-year contract and his new club have paid a potential £15million to prise him from St Mary’s.
“I’m absolutely buzzing to be here,” Rodriguez told the club’s website. “The most important thing is to be wanted – and Tony Pulis made it clear just how much they have wanted me to join. That’s fantastic for any footballer to hear. I’m genuinely delighted to be joining a club of Albion’s stature. The team is full of top players and it’s pretty clear that they are also a great set of lads.”
Rodriguez has struggled with injury since joining the Saints from his boyhood club Burnley in 2012, but when fit he is regarded as a player of fine Premier League pedigree. Prior to picking up the knee injury in April 2014, which has blighted his recent career, he scored 15 goals in 33 league matches and five months earlier won his one and only – to date – cap for England.
The striker becomes Albion’s first signing of the summer, but there are sure to be more to follow considering three players – Craig Gardner, Sebastien Pocognoli and captain Darren Fletcher – have all left since the end of last season. Rumours persist that Leicester City are keen on Jonny Evans, but Pulis will do all he can to ensure the defender remains at the Hawthorns.
