Grady Diangana: I can bring more to West Brom
Grady Diangana promised the best is yet to come after completing his permanent move to Albion.
The 22-year-old’s anticipated switch from West Ham in a deal which will eventually be worth a Baggies record £18million was confirmed last night.
Diangana, who has penned a five-year contract, played a key role in helping Slaven Bilic’s team win promotion from the Championship while on loan at The Hawthorns last season and his arrival is a huge boost with the Premier League season now just a week away.
But the England under-21 international is already eager to kick on and get even better as Albion prepare for life back in the top flight.
He said: “I learned a lot over the last 12 months. It was a learning process and I shocked myself (with how well I did).
“I’m looking forward to pushing on and improving more. I know I can bring more to the game and to the team.
“I’m still young and last year was like my first season in senior football. I feel I am only going to get better. I believe in the style of football we play under Slaven.”
Diangana declared himself “excited” at joining Albion permanently in a move which has left many West Ham supporters angry with their club. The Hammers are thought to have inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the deal.
“West Ham was all I had known before last season and I’m sure people will understand that I felt some sadness at leaving,” explained Diangana, who had come through the Hammers youth ranks.
“But coming here having had that season we have just experienced, there were no nerves about leaving at all. Knowing the manager and the players and the feelings I have got for the club just made me excited.”
Diangana scored six times for Albion last season and the club’s sporting director Luke Dowling said: “Last year was Grady’s first proper season really and more football than he had ever played before.
“When you are a sprinter like Grady and you’ve got players kicking lumps out of you it is a tough experience.
“We all saw how Grady handed it and now we’re all excited to see him step up to the next level. He’s a player we know our supporters love and we are all thrilled to have been able to get this deal done.”
His arrival was the second at The Hawthorns on a busy day which also saw the Baggies complete a £900,000 deal for Wigan defender Cedric Kipre.
Further signings are expected with the new season looming and Huddersfield striker Karlan Grant remains a target.
The 22-year-old was not expected to feature for the Terriers in their Carabao Cup clash with Rochdale today, though reports Albion have agreed a fee with the Yorkshire club are thought to be premature.
Young striker Callum Morton and goalkeeper Alex Palmer have both joined League One Lincoln City on season-long loans. Morton, who played a starring role in Northampton’s promotion from League Two last season, has also signed a new four-year deal at The Hawthorns.
