Thursday 13 August 2015 10:36, UK
West Bromwich Albion have signed Venezuela international forward Salomon Rondon from Zenit St Petersburg for a club-record fee.
The 25-year-old cost the Baggies in the region of £12m and has signed a four-year deal.
Rondon passed his medical last week and, having now received international clearance, he becomes West Brom’s fifth signing of the summer.
Having begun his career with Aragua in Venezuela, Rondon moved to Spain in 2008 and had spells with Las Palmas and Malaga.
In the summer of 2012, he became the most expensive Venezuelan player in history when he joined Russian side Rubin Kazan and, in January last year, he moved on to Zenit, where he scored 20 times in 37 appearances.
He has been capped 39 times and, having regularly been linked with the Premier League, he has now arrived in the midlands and could make his debut at Watford on Saturday.
“I am very happy to be here,” said Rondon. "This is a new opportunity in my career. I can’t wait to be with the other players and to play.
"The club showed a lot of interest in me, that’s what is important for a player, what you take into account, and there are expectations of me."
Head coach Tony Pulis added: "He’s got a fantastic goalscoring record in some of the top leagues in Europe and for his country.
“He’s 25 years of age and still to fulfill his full potential.
“We hope he hits the ground running of course but understand it might take him time to settle. I’m sure our fans will help him and get behind him.
“But we feel, with age on his side and the prices English clubs are asking for their players, it’s a deal worth doing.
“He comes highly recommended. I have spoken to Manuel (Pellegrini) and AVB (Andre Villas-Boas), who have worked with him, and they were full of praise for the lad. We are looking forward to working with him."
The transfer fee paid for Rondon surpasses the £10m which Albion paid for Brown Ideye before the start of last season.
James McClean, James Chester, Rickie Lambert and loanee Serge Gnabry have previously arrived at The Hawthorns this summer.
