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Official: West Bromwich Albion sign Rochdale defender Craig Dawson
Roberto Di Matteo purchases promising centre-back...
31 Aug 2010 18:53:00
By George Watts
West Bromwich Albion have signed promising defender Craig Dawson from Rochdale for an undisclosed fee.
The highly rated centre-back has penned a three-year deal and has returned to the League One side on a season-long loan.
It is a remarkable rise to stardom for Dawson who only made his professional debut last year for Rochdale, following his move from non-league side Radcliffe Borough.
His signing proved to be an inspired one and the defender was an instrumental figure in helping the club attain promotion, scoring a staggering 11 goals from centre-back last season.
Dawson has been linked with the likes Premier League duo Fulham and Tottenham in recent months, but Roberto Di Matteo has moved to land the player on transfer deadline day.
In March, his fine form was recognised when he was voted the FourFourTwo League Two Player the Year at the annual Football League Awards.
"We're delighted to welcome Craig to the club," West Brom Sporting & technical director Dan Ashworth told the club's official website.
"He is an excellent young prospect who we have thoroughly scouted.
"We tracked him for the whole of last season, watching him around 20 times in League Two, and he has started this season well in League One as well as impressing against Barclays Premier League and Championship opposition in the Carling Cup.
"As a club, we've often talked about having an underbelly of players who will be ready to challenge for a first-team place in a couple of years' time.
"We've seen that happen before when we signed Graham Dorrans from Livingston and immediately loaned him back out and we're hoping Craig can also break through here and challenge.
"He is obviously what the Premier League regard as a 'home-grown' player, is an imposing lad with lots of potential, is comfortable on the ball and also has an eye for goal from set pieces.
"We wish him all the best at Rochdale for the remainder of the season and we'll be closely monitoring his progress."
The highly rated centre-back has penned a three-year deal and has returned to the League One side on a season-long loan.
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It is a remarkable rise to stardom for Dawson who only made his professional debut last year for Rochdale, following his move from non-league side Radcliffe Borough.
His signing proved to be an inspired one and the defender was an instrumental figure in helping the club attain promotion, scoring a staggering 11 goals from centre-back last season.
Dawson has been linked with the likes Premier League duo Fulham and Tottenham in recent months, but Roberto Di Matteo has moved to land the player on transfer deadline day.
In March, his fine form was recognised when he was voted the FourFourTwo League Two Player the Year at the annual Football League Awards.
"We're delighted to welcome Craig to the club," West Brom Sporting & technical director Dan Ashworth told the club's official website.
"He is an excellent young prospect who we have thoroughly scouted.
"We tracked him for the whole of last season, watching him around 20 times in League Two, and he has started this season well in League One as well as impressing against Barclays Premier League and Championship opposition in the Carling Cup.
"As a club, we've often talked about having an underbelly of players who will be ready to challenge for a first-team place in a couple of years' time.
"We've seen that happen before when we signed Graham Dorrans from Livingston and immediately loaned him back out and we're hoping Craig can also break through here and challenge.
"He is obviously what the Premier League regard as a 'home-grown' player, is an imposing lad with lots of potential, is comfortable on the ball and also has an eye for goal from set pieces.
"We wish him all the best at Rochdale for the remainder of the season and we'll be closely monitoring his progress."
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