West Brom beat Stoke to sign defender Kevin Joshua – report
West Brom have completed the signing of defender Kevin Joshua from Solihull United, according to All Nigeria Soccer.
The online outlet have shared the picture of him putting pen-to-paper on a deal that will see him remain at The Hawthorns until the end of next season.
Joshua impressed the Baggies during a trial in the past month and believes there is a genuine pathway to the first-team.
All Nigeria Soccer have reported that Stoke had also offered a three-year deal to the defender, but he instead decided to move to the Albion.
Joshua stands at 6’6″ and has great pace as well as his ability on the ball which suits playing out from the back.
Numerous Premier League clubs were also interested in a move for the 19-year-old, but his four-week trial saw him seal his switch.
The defender is likely to go straight into the under-23s, and start to earn his right to be in the first-team next season, possibly in the Championship.
Ajayi 2.0.
There are immediate comparisons between Joshua and Semi Ajayi.
Ajayi arrived from Rotherham quite cheap, and made immediate strides into being one of the best defenders at The Hawthorns, especially in the Championship.
His pace has become a real weapon in defence, as he can deal with every type of forward that he comes up against with his power.
Should Joshua start to show immediate comparisons in the under-23s, it won’t be long until he strides into the first-team in the next year.
With his contract running out at the end of next season, him earning a new deal could depend on his ability to prove he is good enough for the first-team; time will tell.
In other West Brom news, Mark Lawrenson predicts Baggies clash against Crystal Palace