Baggies bag Zuberbuhler

West Brom have completed the signing of Switzerland goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler on a free transfer from Basle.

The 35-year-old World Cup goalkeeper has signed a two-year deal after passing a medical at The Hawthorns.

Albion boss Bryan Robson told the club’s website, wba.co.uk: “Pascal is a vastly experienced goalkeeper and with Chris Kirkland going out, we needed a replacement.”

The capture of Zuberbuhler is a boost for Robson after midfield talisman Zoltan Gera handed in a transfer request today which was rejected by the club.

The Swiss star’s arrival provides Robson with two quality goalkeepers, although Poland international Tomasz Kuszczak has been linked with a move to Manchester United.

“We needed another goalkeeper to compete with Tomasz,” said Robson.

“He is number one with Switzerland and he was rated as one of the top couple of goalkeepers in the World Cup. It is up to Tomasz and him to challenge for a place.”

Zuberbuhler has been capped 44 times by Switzerland and did not concede a goal at the World Cup in Germany.

Meanwhile, Gera’s agent submitted the request to Albion, which was “rejected out of hand” today.

A statement on the club’s official website www.wba.co.uk read: “Albion have rejected out of hand a transfer request from Zoltan Gera.

“This is in keeping with the Baggies’ strategy not to sell any of the key members of the first-team squad.”

Gera, along with team-mates Nathan Ellington and Curtis Davies, were the subject of a joint £10m (€14.5m) bid from Wigan earlier this summer.