Georgios Samaras signs for West Bromwich Albion

FORMER Celtic attacker Georgios Samaras remains in British football after signing a two-year deal to join English Premier League side West Brom.

The Greek was a free agent after leaving Celtic in summer. Picture: Robert Perry

The Greek international, who left the Scottish champions in the summer, held talks with manager Alan Irvine on Thursday over a move to The Hawthorns.

The deal has now been agreed and Irvine believes the 29-year-old, who helped Greece to the last 16 of the World Cup this year, would be a major asset.

He said: “The picture of Georgios Samaras would be somebody who has played extremely well in some very big games over the last few years, for Greece and for Celtic. He looks like the type of player who can help us.”

Irvine was looking to beef up his forward line after his team scored just 43 goals and beat the drop by three points last season.

Striker Brown Ideye signed for a club record £10 million from Dynamo Kiev in July and could debut in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Southampton – but Irvine still felt the team needed more options up front.

He said: “We need some attacking players in the wide areas. We’ve dealt with the shortages at the back. We’re well covered in midfield.

“I feel one more striker gives us more flexibility and we definitely need to address wide areas.”