Claudio Yacob joins up as West Brom beat Brazilians

Claudio Yacob was completing his move to West Bromwich Albion today after jetting into Sweden to join the Baggies.

The Argentina international touched down in Malmo yesterday and trained with his new team-mates last night after Albion fought off a late attempt by Botafogo to hijack the transfer.

And the 25-year-old was wrapping up the formalities of his free-transfer switch later today to become Steve Clarke's second new signing of the summer following the loan capture of Yassine El Ghanassy.

The Baggies also signed goalkeeper Ben Foster on a permanent deal following his successful loan stint last season.

The capture of Yacob will end a dramatic week of negotiations that saw the former Racing Club de Avellaneda player agree to join the Baggies before big-spending Brazilian side Botafogo made a late effort to change his mind.

However, Albion have convinced the two-time Argentina international that his future lies in the Premier League.

Yacob has already passed a medical at the Baggies' training ground and agreed personal terms.

Sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth said Yacob had joined the squad in Sweden with a view to signing.

"This will give Claudio the chance to take a closer look at us, and us at him," said Ashworth.

Yacob is a holding midfielder who has been compared in style to fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano and Barcelona anchorman Sergio Busquets.

His arrival will help plug a gap in the Albion squad that was created when they released Paul Scharner and Keith Andrews at the end of last season.

Albion have watched a range of other midfielders but, with Yacob joining Youssouf Mulumbu, Graham Dorrans and James Morrison in the ranks, it is more likely that the highly-rated George Thorne will be given the chance to fill the other senior squad vacancy.

The club still want at least two more players with a left-back and a striker their top priorities, but they could also be on the lookout for central defenders should they fail to agree a new deal with Jonas Olsson or receive a suitable offer for Gabriel Tamas.