ALBION bolstered their central-defensive options by signing Spanish international Pablo Ibáñez on June 2, 2010.

The 28-year-old centre-half became the club's second signing in a week and officially joined on a Bosman transfer on July 1 after penning a three-year contract.

The Baggies beat off interest from a string of clubs to agree the deal and Ibáñez made his first appearance in Albion colours in a 3-0 pre-season friendly win over Kidderminster Harriers.

He boasts a wealth of top-flight experience, having played the last seven seasons in La Liga's Primera Division.

He was restricted to seven league appearances last term after falling out of favour with new boss Quique Sanchez Flores, who took the reins at the Vincente Calderon Stadium in late October.

However, prior to that, the 6ft4in stopper, who is predominantly right-footed, helped Atletico secure successive fourth-place finishes in 2008 and 2009.

In Europe, he helped the Madrid outfit win the 2007 Intertoto Cup before going on to reach the UEFA Cup's final 32, where they lost to Bolton.

And the following campaign, he was part of the team that reached the knockout stages of the Champions League, eventually losing to Porto on away goals.

Ibáñez came through the Under-21 ranks on the international scene before making his senior debut as a half-time substitute in a 1-0 friendly win over England in November 2004.

He repeated the feat three years later, playing the full 90 minutes in another 1-0 victory over the Three Lions at Old Trafford.

Ibanez has now played 24 times for his country and partnered Barcelona's Carles Puyol in central defence during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

His only goal for Spain came on his last appearance in November, when he scored the fifth in a 5-1 friendly win over Austria in Vienna.

The Madrigueras-born defender started his career with hometown club Albacete where he came through the youth ranks.

He made his first-team debut in September 2002 and played all-but five league games to help them win promotion to the Primera Division.

In his first top-flight campaign, he missed only three games to help Albacete finish 14th, before sealing a summer move to Atletico.

Ibáñez was no stranger to The Hawthorns when he arrived having played at the Black Country venue in Atletico's 2-0 pre-season defeat by Albion in 2005.

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(LAST UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2, 2010)