Official: West Brom sign Gareth McAuley from Ipswich Town

Carling Cup,Gareth McAuley,Ipswich Town vs Northampton Town

Related Links

Teams

Players

West Brom have begun their preparations for next season by announcing the signing of central defender Gareth McAuley from Ipswich Town.

McAuley will join up with the club after his contract with the Championship club expires at the end of June.

The Baggies have beaten off competition from a number of other clubs to secure the services of the Northern Ireland international and boss Roy Hodgson is delighted to have secured more defensive cover for next season.

He told the club’s official website: “I would like to welcome Gareth to the club and I am very pleased we have added a player of his quality and experience to our team.

“We believe it is the right moment for Gareth to embark on a Barclays Premier League career after doing so well for so long in the Championship and for his national team.

“We are also very happy that amid lots of competition for his services, we have managed to persuade him to join us.”

This will be McAuley’s first venture into the Premier League having spent the whole of his 15 year career in Northern Ireland and the lower leagues in England, having played for Lincoln City and Leicester before joining the Portman Road outfit in 2008.