Udinese’s Matej Vydra Completes West Brom Loan Switch

Vydra completes a season long loan switch to the Hawthorns as he joins Veterans Diego Lugano and Nicholas Anelka.

West Bromwich Albion continue to add quality in their squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign by announcing the season long loan signing of Czech Republic striker Matej Vydra from Udinese. The highly rated forward spent last season on loan with Gianfranco Zola’s Watford as he played a crucial part in securing them with a play-off place, suffering defeat to Crystal Palace in the final. Baggies boss Steve Clarke stated earlier today following the completion of the deal:

“We had Matej watched throughout last season. As well as some excellent scouting reports, we had some really good feedback from within Watford about Matej as both a player and person. I’ve said previously we’re a bit light in the forward areas and Matej will increase competition for places. He’s another good quality striker to add to the other three senior forwards we have here.”

The Czech international began his career with home side Vysocina Jihlava in which he made 27 league appearances for the club, netting 5 times during a 2 year spell. After alerting several major clubs, fellow Czech side Banik Ostrava splashed out 20 million Czech Korunas on the striker as he moved to Italian side Udinese just 6 months after his previous transfer. Being took on by the club’s development team, Vydra was loaned out to Watford last season as part of Udinese’s new footballing programme, working alongside the English club. The 21 year old joined a host of players to Vicarage Road from Italy in which was seen as a squad development project. Vydra experienced an unbelievable loan spell with the club as he netted 20 goals in 41 league appearances, being later voted as the Championship player of the year.

Vydra has also made 7 appearances for his country as he has represented them since the age of 15, working his way up the age barriers from the U-16 squad until finally being able to play for the senior team. Overall, any West Bromwich Albion fan who has a keen interest in the championship will be thrilled over this loan signing as the player posesses extreme talent. The striker bares clinical finishing accuracy, exceptional movement and even a change of pace as baggies fans will be looking forward in seeing him in action. Vydra will have to fight for his place in the starting 11 as he joins Nicholas Anelka, Shane Long and Marcus Rosenberg amongst the squad’s attacking options. A fantastic signing by Steve Clarke as he completes another piece of fantastic business.