Baggies sign up Scharner

West Brom have signed former Wigan player Paul Scharner on a two-year contract, the club have announced.

Scharner, who can play in various defensive and midfield roles, joins West Brom as a free agent.

He has been earmarked for midfield duty by Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo, with the midlands club claiming they fended off competition from rival Premier League clubs to sign the 30-year-old Austrian.

Di Matteo told West Brom’s official website: “I’m delighted to welcome Paul to the club.

“He is exactly the type of player we’ve been looking to bring in because he is a proven Premier League player, having performed consistently well in the top flight for the past four and a half years.”