Ivory Coast´s Meite joins West Brom

Defender Abdoulaye Meite of Ivory Coast has been snapped up by West Bromwich Albion from Bolton for two million pounds (2.6 million euros) on a three-year contract.

The Baggies also have an option for a further year for 27-year-old Meite and the fee could rise to 2.5 million pounds based on performance-related conditions.

Meite, who was also wanted by Hull, becomes Albion manager Tony Mowbray's eighth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Gianni Zuiverloon, Marek Cech, Scott Carson, Roman Bednar, Luke Moore, Do-heon Kim and Graham Dorrans.

He was a regular for the Trotters for a season and a half after joining from Marseille two years ago, but the arrival of Gary Cahill from Aston Villa in January limited his opportunities in the first team.

In all he made 56 league appearances for Bolton without ever finding the net.

The Paris-born centre-half, who can also play at full-back, came to prominence after joining Marseille in 2001 and played for the French giants in the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

He also featured for the Ivory Coast at the 2006 World Cup and is a veteran of two African Nations Cups.