Friday 28 August 2015 22:42, UK
West Brom's Adil Nabi has completed a loan move to Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos.
The highly-rated forward has made an excellent start to the season, scoring twice in two starts for West Brom's U21 side, helping fire them to the top of the Barclays U21 Division Two table.
Nabi was named West Brom's Young Player of the Year last season and scored 17 minutes after coming on as a substitute in a pre-season friendly against Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg.
But the acquisition of club-record signing Salomon Rondon over the summer has pushed Nabi further down the pecking order at West Brom and the 21-year-old has now joined Delhi to play regular first-team football.
Nabi will play alongside former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda who completed a move to the Indian capital on Sunday, several weeks after Delhi held initial talks with the Frenchman.
Former Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise has also joined Delhi Dynamos after he announced his move to the franchise on Sky Sports News HQ on Monday.
Nabi will play under former Brazil and Real Madrid full-back, Roberto Carlos who was appointed Dynamos player-manager at the end of last month.
"I didn't really have to think about it for too long," Nabi said. "The idea appealed to me the moment it was proposed. I spoke to my parents and to people at the club and everyone thought it was an exciting idea.
"I can't wait. It is going to be an amazing experience. Some of the players who are now going to India are the biggest names in world football and working under a legend like Roberto Carlos is a chance not to be missed.
"I have spoken to the gaffer (Tony Pulis) and he agrees that it can be a great development opportunity for me. To go out, away from all my home comforts, and experience life and different football.
"I will be back at the end of the year when I hope I will have learned as a person and a footballer. My ambition is to still break into the Albion first team and this experience can help me do that."
Head coach Tony Pulis added: "It's a great opportunity for Adil and we will follow his progress closely.
"I'm a big supporter of a young man stepping out of his comfort zone and experiencing another part of the world.
"I think he will come out of it a better, more mature person and as a result a better footballer."
Nabi is one of just three full-time professionals from Britain's Asian community playing in England's top flight and scooped the Young Player Award at the 2013 Asian Football Awards held at Wembley Stadium.
Delhi's ISL campaign begins with a visit to FC Goa on October 4 in a match pitting Carlos against former Brazil-team-mate Lucio.
