West Brom sign left-footed centre-back after exit from Burnley

West Brom have added former Burnley youth defender Michael Parker to the development side, the club have confirmed.

The Baggies announced on their official website [4 September] that the 19-year-old has penned a one-year deal at The Hawthorns, with the option to extend for another year.

Parker will join up with Richard Beale for the Premier League 2 squad, with the side only winning one and losing two of their opening three fixtures.

Michael Parker joins West Brom

The Huddersfield Town academy prospect has already sported the navy blue and white stripes of the Baggies in the 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League 2.

Parker made his appearance on 46 minutes and despite conceding four goals during his cameo on the pitch, he must have impressed Beale as the left-sided centre-back.

It has not been an easy journey into football so far for the defender. He made one appearance for Huddersfield in the FA Youth Cup before an outing with Bishop's Stortford in the National League North earned him a move to the Shrewsbury Town youth setup.

He failed to make an appearance for the Shrews and found himself at Burnley, making an appearance in the U21 Premier League Cup against Fulham before he was released.

Beale's side finished 21st in the Premier League 2 last term, ending the campaign with their fifth win against Leeds United, ending a run of four straight defeats.

Parker will hope he has finally found a permanent home in West Brom and will be facing a make-or-break season for his professional career with seemingly no way back towards the top end of the football pyramid should his spell with the Baggies end with failure.

In other West Brom news, Carlos Corberan is an absolute mastermind at the Baggies after a new Tom Fellows announcement.

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