Two Albion under-18 defenders have signed one-year professional deals.

Ayo Tanimowo and Sam Packham also have the option of another year.

Tanimowo is an enterprising right-back who joined from Norwich City in 2018.

He caught the eye in last term’s FA Youth Cup run.

Packham is a more versatile defender and has been with the club since he was eight years old.

Under-18s boss Mark Beard said: “They’ve both done very well for the under-18s for the past two seasons. Sam can pretty much play in any position, anywhere across the backline or in midfield. He’s got a very good footballing brain, he’s athletic and has a very good engine on him.

“When he came into the under-18s we were worried about his robustness, but he proved us wrong last season when he played pretty much every game. He’s done very well in the last two years he just needs a little bit more faith in his own ability and that will take him quite a long way.

“Ayo has played most of the season at right-back. Ayo is pretty similar to Sam, he’s got a good engine, but he’s absolutely frighteningly quick and he’s a very attacking player – he’s good in one-v-one attacking positions”