West Bromwich Albion have announced the signing of defender James Chester from Hull on a four-year deal.
Chester, 26, moves to The Hawthorns as Baggies manager Tony Pulis' recruitment drive gathers pace. The transfer is worth up to £8 million should all the clauses in the deal be triggered while Chester is an Albion player, Hull boss Steve Bruce told BBC Humberside on Tuesday.
Chester is the latest arrival, with the former Manchester United defender out of contract at the KC Stadium next year and the Tigers cashing in following relegation from the Premier League. He made 171 appearances for Hull -- scoring eight goals -- after signing from Old Trafford in 2011 and is set to become part of Pulis' revolution at West Brom.
CHESTER: The defender has joined Albion for an undisclosed fee. For further details click here http://t.co/00BzSIADr3 pic.twitter.com/GJxiM7MZcN
- West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) July 29, 2015
"James did very well for Hull City. I've had a good chat with him and he's the type of player I like," Pulis told the club's official website. "He's young, a strong character, a good defender, he has good feet and he has the Manchester United stamp all over him, just like [Stoke City captain ] Ryan Shawcross and Darren Fletcher. They're wonderful lads and I'm told James is as well.
"From the people I spoke to, like Steve Bruce and people in the Welsh party... they speak very highly of him. Steve especially gave him a great mention and there is no better accolade than Steve Bruce giving a defender a good drum roll. James is a good player who can play anywhere along the back line and I'm confident he will get better with age."
Pulis has already signed Wigan winger James McClean and remains keen on Nottingham Forest's Michail Antonio, despite having a £5 million bid turned down, as well as QPR's Matt Phillips and Arsenal's Serge Gnabry.
The club have held talks with Bakary Sako after the former Wolves winger lowered his wage demands having failed to find a club since leaving Molineux at the end of last season. But Abou Diaby has rejected a move to the Baggies and has signed for Ligue 1 side Marseille on a free transfer.
"We're trying to bring in others, but they have to be the right players," Pulis added. "We're very pleased to have James on board and hopefully we can work hard to get more in."