'Earn this opportunity' - Josh Griffiths after sealing transfer to Stoke from West Brom

Stoke have completed the signing of Albion goalkeeper Josh Griffiths.

It brings to an end 14 years at the Baggies for the 24-year-old shot-stopper, who made 45 senior appearances for Albion.

He joins the Championship Potters for a fee understood to be in the region of £600,000, plus add-ons and a sell-on clause.

The keeper became surplus to requirements as Albion sought to improve on the department and tied down Max O’Leary, who ended the season as No.1 and played a big role in the push to survival, to a three-year deal.

Experienced Matt Ingram, 32, this week arrived from Oxford as O’Leary’s deputy and it remains to be seen if any further goalkeeper business materialises. Griffiths was a reasonable earner at The Hawthorns and, behind O’Leary in the pecking order, it was viewed by all as time to start afresh.

Griffiths said of the move: “I have spoken to Darren (Behcet, Stoke goalkeeper coach) a lot already, he has a great reputation for developing goalkeepers and I know he will challenge me, which is something I need in this next chapter in my career.

"Something that really attracted me in the conversations we had was that the club wants players and staff to carry values which reflect the community and supporters. The fact I have worked so hard to earn this opportunity meant that was a big tick in the box for me.

“Last season, I gained a lot of experience in Championship football after good loan experiences in League One and Two. I’ve now played a decent amount of games in my career which has given me a calmness that I believe will help players in front of me.”

Stoke sporting director Jon Walters added: “Josh arrives with all the right attributes and experience to add to the competition, quality and camaraderie within our goalkeeping group.

“We believe he will benefit significantly from the opportunity to work with a strong group of goalkeepers under Darren Behcet, within an environment where the highest standards are expected and lived every day. We all wish him well for his Stoke City career."

Griffiths will compete with highly-regarded Stoke No.1 Viktor Johansson, who is at the World Cup with Sweden, at the bet365 Stadium.

The keeper wrote a post thanking Albion staff, players and supporters after he worked his way into the professional fold.

He posted on Instagram: “14 years later, and my West Brom journey has come to an end.

“For as long as I can remember, I worked every day to give myself the best chance of playing at The Hawthorns. To have achieved that is something I’m so proud of.

“Thank you to my family and my partner for constantly sacrificing everything and always believing I would get there. Thank you to every single member of staff I worked with, not just the coaches but all the amazing people behind the scenes, and of course to the players in the dressing room who have become friends.

“Finally, thank you to the fans for their unbelievable support throughout my journey. It means everything, and it’s something I won’t forget.

“I’d like to wish the club all the very best for the future. Thank you, Baggies!”