Albion have agreed a permanent deal with Barnsley for goalkeeper Luke Steele, meaning the youngster will get the chance to play in the FA Cup semi final.
Steele has joined Barnsley on loan until the end of the season and will complete a permanent free transfer in May.
Under FA rules, Steele will be allowed to play for the Oakwell club against Cardiff but not against Albion in the final should both teams reach that stage.
Chairman Jeremy Peace said: “I’m delighted for all parties concerned - and particularly Luke - that we’ve been able to come to an agreement.
“We’ve always been happy for Luke to go back to Barnsley and play in the semi-final - providing the deal was right for us.
“We felt we were a big help to Barnsley by allowing Luke to join them for a month and heavily subsidising his wages.
“Now Barnsley’s financial situation has changed due to their lucrative FA Cup run, we’ve managed to strike a deal which suits everyone.
“Luke was No.3 goalkeeper here and unlikely to get first-team football.
“He’s now got a chance to play regularly and we wish him every success at Barnsley.”
Steele signed for Albion from Manchester United in August 2006 but only made two senior appearances for the Baggies.
12 Comments
Good luck to him not to much lol
great to see the kid get the chance to play at wembley,well done to the albion
bout time to chuck by gum,going to wembley with deano boing boing
Not sure who was to blame for the delay but I am pleased the lad can have his big day.
Fair play to the lad, he’s got his chance to maybe run out at Wembley and it would have been a blow to him if he’d missed out. But the way the press have reported it, it seemed he was forgetting who was paying his wages. West Bromwich Albion have acted properly as far as transfer rules apply, in the best interests of Luke Steele, and Barnsley. The only party who was on a loser were the Baggies. I say Well
Done JP if your going to make your own supporters pay up, why should everybody else get away with it!!
WHEN DONE TO YOUNG LUKE,BUT A SHAME HE WILL MISS THE FINAL AGAINST US .COS WEEM DOING THE DOUBLE………OH YES…OH YES….THE MOWBRAY WAY,,PROPER FOOTY….
well done boggies giving luke steele his day out at wembley, out of all the teams left in barnsley earned there place the hard way liverpool chelsea up the barns.
Pleased for Luke - and pleased that should we meet in the final we aint gotta beat him - I think he is a really good keeper.
Aah! I thought it had gone but that voice and that phrase are back in my computer. Help!!!
4,malv,we will be having our big day wont we,boing boing big day at wembley
I think, Malvern , that Barnsley wanted their cake and to eat it too, but I also think the noises we have made on here and hopefully the hard done by Barnsley supporters on their sites have hastened the decision to let the lad have his big day. The FA Cup is a very big part of the English scene and to play in it at Wembley is the pinnacle of many an average player’s career, unlike the Rooneys and Beckhams of this world. If by any chance we end up playing Barnsley, let him play in that too and to hell with the rules!
You had a big day at wembley already against a much worse side and look what happened there! boing boing being dissapointed and looking stupid the mowbray way!!!