BARNETT joined Albion from Luton for an initial £2.5million fee in July 2007.

The 6ft 2in centre-half penned a four-year contract, plus a year's option in the club's favour.

His price rose by another £250,000 after he helped the Baggies win promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and could rise by a further £250,000 depending on appearances.

He started the opening five league games last term as he got his first taste of top-flight life.

But costly errors in home defeats by Villa and Newcastle saw him suffer a loss of confidence and he watched from the sidelines for most of the season before spending the final two months nursing a knee injury.

Barnett found himself in and out of Tony Mowbray's first XI during his first season at the Baggies but still managed to get 34 starts and two substitute appearances under his belt.

He was thrust back into the thick of the action following an injury to Martin Albrechtsen with five league games remaining.

But he stood up to the test well at the heart of defence alongside Neil Clement to help Albion clinch the Championship crown and line up his first taste of the Premier League.

Barnett became the second Luton defender to join the Baggies in a multi-million pound deal in as many years following Curtis Davies' successful £3million switch in August 2005.

He became the first player to represent Luton at Under-17, Under-19, reserves and first-team level in one season when he made his senior debut in an LDV Vans Trophy win over Woking in October 2002.

Following a six-month loan spell at non-league Aylesbury, he made his league debut for Town in a Championship victory against Hull in September 2005.

Barnett went on to establish himself at the heart of the Hatters defence in the second half of that season.

During 2006/07, he made 43 appearances for his hometown club, scoring three times - against Leicester, Stoke and Wolves.

Barnett's towering performances also earned him Luton's official Player-of-the-Year Award.

In total, Barnett made 78 career appearances for Town, including ten as a substitute, scoring three times.

(UPDATED ON JUNE 25, 2009)