George Thorne signs new West Brom deal - and joins Derby on loan

George Thorne today signed a new three-and-a-half year deal at Albion – and immediately joined Derby on loan.

moreThe midfielder has committed his future to the Baggies until 2017 after returning from a serious knee injury in September.

And he has now joined the promotion-chasing Rams until the end of the season and could make his debut in their Championship clash at Birmingham on Saturday.

"We feel he deserves this new deal," said sporting and technical director Richard Garlick.

"It's pleasing to reward another of our Academy products with a long-term contract.

"With George coming back from long-term injury, and the arrival of a new head coach making it difficult to break into the first team, we decided to secure him a loan move to Derby, so he can get game time at a really good club, who are at a good level and play football the way we like.

"We will monitor his progress closely while he is there and Pepe (Mel) is eager to go and watch him."

Thorne, who joined the Albion Academy at Under-16s level, has previously been on loan at Portsmouth and Peterborough.

He suffered a cruciate ligament injury at Everton last January but recovered and spent time on loan at Watford this season.