Albion’s Italy U17 international Dauda Iddrisa has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Born in Brescia, Italy, the defensive-midfielder - who can also play centre-back - has penned a two-and-a-half year contract which keeps him at The Hawthorns until June 2027.
It’s been a whirlwind 2024/25 campaign for Iddrisa; signing scholarship terms last summer, heading out to Slovenia with Richard Beale’s Under-21 group, before a childhood ambition was fulfilled against Fleetwood Town in August.
At just 16, the youngster stepped off the bench to make his senior bow for club in the Carabao Cup encounter and, from then on, has impressed in the Baggies’ youth setup and overseas with his nation.
So much so, the tough-tackling midfielder - now 17 - has been rewarded with a professional deal after seamlessly adapting to the demands of football at a higher level in the PL2 side, while also playing an influential role in the U18s’ eye-catching run to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals.
Iddrisa follows in the footsteps of team-mates Ollie Bostock and Cole Deeming by committing his future to the club prior to the end of his scholarship phase - further testament to the perseverance of the young Italian, believes Academy Manager Richard Stevens.
Having joined the club aged 10, the West Bromwich local has been brought up around the culture of the Baggies, and its youth chief Stevens insists the promising midfielder can hit his “ceiling” with future opportunities in the first team.
“Iddrisa’s a wonderful boy, loves football, loves the club and he’s been here for a long time,” said Stevens.
“I believe it's important for the club to get young, exciting players committed to its future because a lot of work goes on within the academy system and the ultimate aim is to get boys out at the other end of it.
“That’s not always been the case, but as Ollie (Bostock) and Cole (Deeming) have shown, they committed themselves to Albion and have had good development opportunities this year and Iddrisa’s the same.
“He's suffered from a couple of years with injuries and has had to show a lot of character and resilience. But him committing to us shows that this club is going in the right direction.
“This deal can progress Iddrisa to the next step of his career and I think it’ll be an exciting one for us all because his performances, and the platform this football club provides, has allowed him to improve - leading to getting recognised by the Italian FA.
“Of course, he then has to go there and show his quality - which he has done. So, he’s been getting some unbelievable exposure in terms of international football, but Iddrisa’s not about the glamour.
“We have a really humble player who takes everything in his stride and, as with all young players, they need an opportunity which I think this football club can provide him.
“We have a manager who has shown he will play young players, but will only play them if he sees their ability, so they've got to show him what they are about.
“Iddrisa’s ceiling is whatever he wants it to be and, linked in with some good timing at the club, I believe this is where his opportunity will arise.”
