West Bromwich Albion have beaten off competition from their Premier League rivals to secure the signing of England goalkeeper Scott Carson.

 The 22-year-old has cost Albion s3.25million, possibly rising by another s500,000, and joins on a four-year-deal from Liverpool after spending nearly all of last season on loan at Aston Villa.

  Carson has made 71 top flight starts in the last two seasons and stands second in the all-time list of England Under-21 appearance-makers with 29 to his name. He broke into the full squad last season.

  His arrival takes the Baggies' summer spending on transfers to an initial s13.75million after the signings of Roman Bednar, Luke Moore, Do-heon Kim, Graham Dorrans, Gianni Zuiverloon and Marek Cech.
 He will challenge veteran Dean Kiely for the starter's spot after opting for a move to The Hawthorns over Stoke City and rumoured late interest from Blackburn Rovers.
 The Cumbrian born goalkeeper joined Leeds as a trainee in September 2002, after being spotted playing for non-league Workington in the FA Youth Cup, before he moved to Anfield in 2005.
 Carson's chances at Anfield have been limited and a two-month spell at Sheffield Wednesday towards the end of the 2005/06 campaign was swiftly followed by a season-long loan at then-Premier League outfit Charlton.