West Brom have signed centre-back Ryan Donk from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar on a season-long loan deal, with a view to making the move permanent.
Donk is West Brom's third signing from the Dutch top flight this summer, after his Netherlands Under-21 team-mate Gianni Zuiverloon and Jonas Olsson.
Baggies boss Tony Mowbray said: "I've been monitoring Ryan for a few years.
"He's only 22 but he has huge physical presence and I'm delighted to have added him to our defensive options."
Mowbray added: "Leon Barnett and Abdoulaye Meite have done very well in central defence but everyone saw on Saturday [in the 0-0 draw against Bolton] how stretched we were in that department when Abou went off injured and Gianni had to move into the middle.
"We've now got plenty of competition for places in that area and I'm sure the fact Ryan knows Gianni really well will help him settle in quickly."
Donk joined RKC Waalwijk aged 18 but made just seven appearances before being snapped up by AZ, with the club describing him as "one of the biggest talents in Dutch football" when he signed in August 2006.
The 6ft 4in Donk was recruited by current Alkmaar boss Louis van Gaal, who has also managed the Netherlands, Ajax and Barcelona.
Donk has made 42 appearances for AZ, scoring once, and he and Zuiverloon helped the Netherlands clinch the European Under-21 Championships on home soil in 2007.
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