Teenage Albion striker Chris Wood has put pen to paper on his first professional contract as the Baggies close in on the signing of Juan Carlos Menseguez.

Giant New Zealand teenager Wood signed a two-year deal with an option in the club’s favour for a further two years.

Now reports in Argentina claim Albion have agreed an £850,000 fee with San Lorenzo to turn Menseguez’s loan into a permanent move.

Wood’s first professional deal was wrapped up ahead of his flight to South Africa, where the 17-year-old will link up with the senior New Zealand side for the Confederations Cup.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has also hinted other academy graduates could be rewarded with contracts this summer with goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, defender Paul Downing, midfielder Romaine Sawyers and striker Lateef Elford-Alliyu all reserve team regulars this season.

The manager said: “I’m delighted that Chris has been rewarded with his contract. Hopefully, he’s the first of a handful of young players who will be signing pro contracts over the summer.

“We feel the future is very bright for the players who are now starting to emerge from the academy, some of whom were on the bench at Blackburn on Sunday.

“There’s a real positive feeling coming from the academy. We possess some young, talented individuals.

“They’ve all got a lot of hard work ahead of them but they’ll hopefully have bright futures in the game.”

Wood’s contract completes a rapid rise to prominence for the Auckland-born ace, who made his second Premier League appearance late on at Blackburn on Sunday.

He was joined on the bench by academy teammates Downing and Sawyers.

Nigerian-born England youth striker Elford-Alliyu was also in the travelling party, but did not make the final 18.