Shrewsbury Town have signed former West Brom youth team player Chris Humphrey.
Shrewsbury Town have signed former West Brom youth team player Chris Humphrey.The 18-year-old was spotted by Shrews boss Gary Peters (pictured) during a reserve team fixture involving the two sides on Monday.
Humphrey impressed on the right wing for Albion and after learning of his availability, Peters moved quickly to sign him.
The winger was a free agent after his contract at The Hawthorns expired and was therefore free to join another club outside of the transfer window.
Peters has now handed Humphrey a deal until the end of the season at Gay Meadow and is delighted to have the youngster on board.
"It was a little bit of the right place at the right time and good contacts," Peters told the club's official website.
"We happened to be playing West Brom reserves on Monday and they had a lad playing on the right-wing who caused more trouble than anyone I've seen for a long time.
"He was a very fast right-winger, he was getting a lot of crosses in and going past our players as if they weren't there at times.
"During the game I found out that he was out of contract and that there was a possibility I could get him. After the game I kidnapped him, put him in the back of the coach and Albion are still looking for him!
"He's out of contract so we've signed him and it's good that he didn't have a contract which meant we could sign him."
Peters admits the Shrews dressing room was stunned by Humphrey's skill during the game.
He added: "This is an impulse signing, our changing room was only talking about one thing at half time and that was how to stop Albion's right-winger.
"I don't need to see a player like that too many times to know he's got ability.
"I've seen him once and he's already got the respect of all of our lads who played against him on Monday."
