West Brom seal new goalkeeper signing to compete with Max O'Leary for No.1 spot

Albion have completed the signing of experienced goalkeeper Matt Ingram.

The 32-year-old shot-stopper checks into The Hawthorns on a two-year contact having spent the last two seasons at Oxford United in the Championship, where he was back-up goalkeeper.

Ingram appeared just once in the second tier in his two seasons with the U’s, and played seven times in all competitions.

He was still under contract at Oxford having agreed a new deal last summer, and checks into Albion for an undisclosed fee.

The former Wycombe, QPR and Hull man’s arrival comes with Albion academy graduate Josh Griffiths poised to complete a permanent move to Championship rivals Stoke.

Griffiths will end a 15-year association with the club as he moves to the Potteries.

Albion remained in the market for another goalkeeper to compete or add cover to Max O’Leary, who extended his stay with the Baggies earlier in the summer by agreeing a long-term deal.

Previous back-up keeper Joe Wildsmith was also released this summer.

New-boy Ingram does have second-tier experienced, briefly with the R’s earlier in his career but more significantly and recently at Hull, where he was instrumental in League One promotion and played 61 times in the division across the next three seasons for the Tigers before moving to Oxford.

O’Leary and Ingram will battle it out for James Morrison’s No.1 shirt at The Hawthorns this season, with O’Leary likely to be in pole position given his impressive form from January as the Baggies secured survival.

Republic of Ireland international O’Leary also boasts a greater amount of Championship experience.

High Wycombe-born Ingram began his career with his hometown Wanderers and has made more than 300 appearances for eight clubs.

Ingram will join his new colleagues as Albion report for pre-season training under Morrison and his new backroom staff on Thursday.