West Brom announce four new contracts in bright new era at The Hawthorns
Four academy players have committed their futures to West Brom by signing their first professional contracts with the club.
Albion confirmed on their official website (2 July) that Deago Nelson, Evan Humphries, Archie Kirton and Adriel Walker had penned deals to permanently become part of Richard Beale's development squad.
Nelson and Humphries have both signed for the club on two-year contracts, while Kirton and Walker's deals are for 12 months, with the club having the option to extend both by an additional year.
All four of the players have already made appearances for the club's Under-21s side, and will now step up their involvement in the club's Professional Development Phase programme with a view to a first-team breakthrough.
West Brom ushering in bright new era across youth and first teams
Four Albion youngsters signing their first contracts with the club coincides with a number of older players heading the other way as the Baggies' summer really kicks into gear.
One new signing - 23-year-old Malian midfielder Ousmane Diakite - is already through the door, but a total of 14 players were released at the end of their respective contract on 30 June.
That list included five players over 30: Martin Kelly, Yann M'Vila, Erik Pieters, Adam Reach and Matt Phillips - the latter after over 250 matches for the Baggies.
'Out with the old and in with the new' appears to be the goal for Carlos Corberan at the top of the club, but at the next rung down the ladder, four new youth signings will continue this theme going forward.
It remains to be seen if Humphries, Kirton, Nelson and Walker will even get close to first-team action in the coming months.
But with Albion's academy production line growing evermore this summer, don't be surprised to see plenty of new home-grown faces in Corberan's side next season.
In other West Brom news, a contract clause has emerged after another announcement at The Hawthorns.