ALBION have swooped to make their fifth summer signing by capturing right-back Gianni Zuiverloon from Dutch top-flight outfit Heerenveen in a £3.2million deal.

The Holland Under-21 international has today signed a three-year Baggies contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour, after passing a Hawthorns medical.

He becomes one of Albion's most expensive signings and takes the club's summer spending to almost £10million following the permanent captures of Roman Bednar, Luke Moore, Do-heon Kim and Graham Dorrans.

Zuiverloon played in all-but four of Heerenveen's 34 league games last season, scoring twice to help them finish fifth in Eredivisie - Holland's Premier division - and book a UEFA Cup place.

He has 17 Under-21 caps under his belt and was named in the 'UEFA Team of the Tournament' after helping the Netherlands retain the Under-21s European Championships title on Dutch soil in 2007.

The 21-year-old defender even scored the winning 32^nd spot-kick past England's Scott Carson in an epic semi-final penalty shoot-out in front of his home crowd at the Abe Lenstra stadium.

Zuiverloon is set to compete for Holland at the Beijing Olympics in August and was also part of Holland's Under-20 squad at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships, and the Under-21s' side at the 2006 Toulon Tournament.

Manager Tony Mowbray said: "Gianni's a player that originally came to my attention during pre-season last year when we played Heerenveen.

"We've followed his progress throughout the season and I'm delighted he has agreed to join us.

"From our point of view we've got a very talented, young footballer who is eager to prove his qualities at the highest level.

"He has good defensive qualities, is a good athlete, is comfortable on the ball and wants to improve.

"He will add good competition for places to the squad and is another piece in the jigsaw.

"Hopefully he is the first of a few new signings to come in as we continually look to improve the squad."

The Rotterdam-born ace came through the youth ranks at Feyenoord and was handed his professional debut by then-boss Ruud Gullit in August 2004.

He joined RKC Waalwijk on loan the following season to gain first-team experience before signing for Heerenveen in June 2006.

In total, Zuiverloon has made 99 career league appearances, including 14 as a substitute, scoring four times.

PIC: DUTCH DELIGHT...Zuiverloon puts pen to paper on Albion contract

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