West Bromwich Albion have completed the signing of 22 year old Belgian international Yassine El Ghanassy from Gent.
The winger arrives on a season-long deal, with the Birmingham club hopeful of converting the loan move into a permanent one by the season's end.
The Belgian winger will move to the Hawthorns pending the result of a medical test and an international clearance. It is understood that West Brom have the option of signing El Ghanassy on a permanent deal once his loan spell ends next year.
The versatile forward has made two international appearances for Belgium. He is known for his exceptional dribbling skills and the ability of playing on either flank as well as up front.
"I'm delighted to welcome Yassine to the club," West Brom head coach Steve Clarke told the club's official website. "He is an exciting, young prospect who will hopefully add something different to our squad."
"This is a big move for Yassine and we'll have to be patient with him as he settles into a new country and gets to grips with the demands of the Barclays Premier League. But we believe he has got the raw talent to make an impact here."
El Ghanassy helped former club Gent finish third in the Belgian league last season and put in 37 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals along the way.
In 2010, the young winger helped Gent win the Belgian league and complete the cup double. El Ghanassy has played in both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League during his four years with the Belgian outfit.
The Baggies revealed that they have been watching El Ghanassy for the last two years and are delighted to have signed him this season.
West Brom’s sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth revealed that El Ghanassy’s arrival was the result of a long term project.
He said: “Yassine is a player we have watched develop for a couple of years.”
“He has shown in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belgium-c2850 his ability to put defenders on the back foot and create and score goals and he is on the fringes of the national team.”
El Ghanassy passed a medical yesterday and will wear the number 10 jersey.
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