Mowbray goes Dutch for Donk

Holland Under-21 star Ryan Donk has today joined Albion on a season's long loan from Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar. Hot on the heels of Jonas Olsson joining from NEC Nijmegen yesterday and Gianni Zuiverloon from Heerenveen at the start of summer, 22-year-old Donk joins with a view to permanent move.

Seen as a real prospect in Holland for being strong in the air, good whilst in possession and a threat in the opposition box, Tony Mowbray is delighted to have added to his defensive options only hours before the transfer windows closes.

"We've signed a young defender with a good pedigree whose talent has been nurtured for the last two years by Louis van Gaal," Mowbray said.

"Ryan's a player I've been monitoring for a few years and, alongside Gianni, he was part of the Dutch Under-21 team which won the European Championships last year.

"Although Ryan's still only 22, he has a huge physical presence and I'm delighted to have added him to our defensive options.

"Leon Barnett and Abdoulaye Meite have done very well in central defence but everyone saw on Saturday how stretched we were in that department when Abou went off injured and Gianni had to move into the middle.

"We've now got plenty of competition for places in that area and I'm sure the fact Ryan knows Gianni really well will help him settle in quickly."

The 6ft4in defender broke through the ranks at AZ under van Gaal and has made 42 appearances, scoring once.