Grady Diangana, Chris Willock & Matheus Pereira: Trio join West Brom on loan
- Published
West Ham United midfielder Grady Diangana was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo
West Brom have made three summer window deadline day loan signings by bringing in West Ham midfielder Grady Diangana, Benfica striker Chris Willock and Sporting Lisbon winger Matheus Pereira.
On top of signing Southampton striker Charlie Austin, Albion boss Slaven Bilic has also taken Diangana, Willock and Pereira on season-long loans.
That takes the new Baggies boss's total of summer window signings to nine.
Albion are keen to improve on making the Championship play-offs in May.
Bilic's men began the new campaign on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
The signings of 30-year-old Austin, England Under-20 international Diangana, 21 - from Bilic's old club West Ham - Willock, also 21, and Pereira, 23, follow the arrival of defenders Semi Ajayi and Darnell Furlong, striker Kenneth Zohore, Croatian midfielder Filip Krovinovic and the return of Romaine Sawyers.
Albion's new loan signings
The Baggies reportedly beat off interest from a host of clubs, most notably Derby County, to sign Diangana, who made 21 West Ham appearances last term, scoring twice on his debut.
That was in the 8-0 Carabao Cup win over Macclesfield in late September, but he went on to play 17 Premier League games, of which he started six.
Albion sporting and technical director Luke Dowling said: "Grady is direct with his running, has good ability and will be another exciting addition to our squad.
"He comes with good Premier League experience but he's now at this early stage of his career where he needs to get good, regular game time."
Former Arsenal youth product Willock made one League Cup appearance for the Gunners as a 16-year-old and joined Benfica in 2017, but is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Portuguese club.
"Chris has been looking to get back over here," said Dowling. "Slaven enjoys working with and developing youngsters. It will be a brilliant shop window for him. He's an exciting forward player with the capacity to work in wide or central areas."
Brazilian winger Pereira arrives at The Hawthorns following a year in the Bundesliga with Nuremberg.
"Negotiations have been ongoing for three or four weeks," said Dowling. "He has natural flair but he went on loan and experienced the football in the Bundesliga last year which showed a different side to his game."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.