West Brom sign ex-Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on a one-year deal

Branislav Ivanovic has completed his move to West Brom.

The defender has signed a one-year deal having been a free agent after leaving Zenit St Petersburg.

The ex-Chelsea man won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the Champions League, the Europa League and the League Cup during nine years at Stamford Bridge.

The 36-year-old Serbia international will wear the No 20 shirt at the Hawthorns.

‘The Premier League is the best league in the world,’ Ivanovic told the club’s official website.

‘I need to challenge myself and I am ready for the challenge. I am really happy to be back playing in the Premier League.

‘I hope I am going to be successful here. I have a lot of ambition and I want to prove a lot of things. I will give everything for the team.’

Baggies boss Slaven Bilic believes the signing of Ivanovic will be a big boost to his squad.

‘He’s a great addition for us, a team who are newly promoted in the Premier League. He ticks all the boxes for us.

‘He’s done everything in his career – it’s been magnificent. We’re delighted. He adds quality and experience on the pitch and off the pitch.

‘So it is not only him, it is him plus the influence he will have on not just defenders but the whole team around him. That’s why we targeted him as one of our prime targets. It’s a great signing for us.’