ABDOULAYE Meite joined Albion in a £2million deal less than a week before the start of the 2008/09 Barclays Premier League campaign.

The Ivory Coast international signed a three-year contract, plus a year's option in the club's favour.

The fee could rise to £2.5m depending on performance-related criteria.

Meite's first season with the Baggies was disrupted heavily by a series of hamstring, back and calf injuries, and he was only able to play in half of the club's Barclays Premier League games.

On the international front he was part of the Ivory Coast team at a World Cup qualifier with Malawi in March when a stampede at the Houphouet-Boignyarena arena saw a wall collapse, tragically killing at least 22 people and injuring more than 130.

Meite, who can also operate in either full-back position, started his career at French club Red Star 93 before joining Marseille in July 2001.

He became a first-term regular during his five years with the South of France giants and was a losing finalist in the UEFA Cup and French Cup in 2004 and 2006 respectively. He also played for Marseille in the Champions League.

The 6ft 1in defender joined Bolton in July 2006 and started all-but three of Wanderers' Premier League fixtures the following season as Sam Allardyce's men finished an impressive seventh to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

He was also a regular for Wanderers last season until January, when the arrival of Gary Cahill from Villa for £5m during the transfer window limited his first-team chances.

Meite was born in Paris but pledged his international allegiance to the Ivory Coast.

He is a regular for his chosen country, having appeared at the 2006 World Cup and both the 2006 and 2008 African Cup of Nations.

(LAST UPDATED ON JULY 15, 2009)