Baggies land rising star Davies

West Brom beat the transfer deadline by a matter of minutes to sign highly-rated Luton defender Curtis Davies for £3m (€4.5m).

The 20-year-old centre-half was named Powerade Player of the Season for League One as the Hatters romped to the title last term.

The 6ft 2in starlet was also named in the Professional Footballers’ Association League One Team of the Year and has signed a four-year deal at the Hawthorns.

West Brom boss Bryan Robson told the club’s official website, www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk: “I was really impressed when I saw Curtis play for Luton and our scouts, who have been monitoring him since the end of last season, have been coming back with great reports.

“I believe he’s got a really good future in the game. Although he’s still got a lot of development ahead of him, he’s exactly the type of player I want to keep bringing into this club.

“He’ll fit in really nicely with all the other good young players we’ve got here, like Nathan Ellington, Robert Earnshaw, Richard Chaplow and Darren Carter.

“We want to keep bringing really good young players into this club and Curtis is one of the most outstanding young centre halves I’ve seen for some time.”