Club News

Albion sign Wisdom on season-long loan

Reds right-back becomes sixth summer signing

ALBION have today completed the season-long loan signing of versatile Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom.


The England Under-21 international has completed his move to The Hawthorns this morning after passing a medical. He will wear the No.2 shirt.


Wisdom will today fly out to meet his new team-mates at the club’s pre-season training camp in Sacramento, California.


The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Sky Bet Championship outfit Derby County, making 34 appearances as the Rams narrowly missed out on promotion, falling to defeat in the play-off final at Wembley.


Albion head coach Alan Irvine said: “I’m delighted to welcome Andre to the club.


“I've spoken to Brendan Rodgers, who I've known for a very long time and who I trust implicitly. He said Andre would do a good job for us. That was reassuring. 


“You want to find out about the person. You can see the player but you want to find out what they are like as a person. Brendan spoke very, very highly about him. 


“He's a versatile lad. He's played as a right-back for Liverpool in the Premier League last season, he also played as a full-back for Derby. 


“He grew up as a centre-back and played on the left side of central defence for Liverpool against Preston on Saturday.”


Technical director Terry Burton added: “Andre has been schooled at Liverpool and as a result has a good football education.


“He has gained good experience last year and with the England Under-21s.


“He’s a good defender and he looks to enjoy stopping the opposition from playing which is a quality we want our players to have.”


Wisdom began his youth career at Bradford before moving to Anfield at the age of 14.


He was named in the England Under-16 side that won the 2008 Victory Shield - and a year later triumphed at the Euro U17 Championships in Liechtenstein, scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 final victory over Spain.


Wisdom went on to captain England Under-19s before being handed his Under-21s debut against Israel in September 2011.


The Leeds-born right-back, who can also play in central defence, scored on his Liverpool debut in a 5-3 Europa League victory at Swiss side Young Boys in September 2012.


Six days later he made his first domestic start in a 2-1 Capital One Cup win over Albion at The Hawthorns.


Wisdom made 19 appearances for Liverpool during the 2012/13 campaign. 


In October 2013 he moved to Derby on a season-long loan.