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The 27-year-old has put pen to paper on a three-year-deal, becoming the Baggies' sixth summer signing.

Boss Gary Megson says getting him is a major coup: "It takes us forward not just one step but quite a few steps."

Megson told the club's website: "I think the reasons he's joining us are footballing ones. It's a major coup for this club."

Kanu spent five-and-a-half years at Highbury after joining from Inter Milan and has overcome a serious heart condition to be a prodigious goalscorer and medal winner throughout his career.

He began his playing career at Ajax, where he played in successive Champions League finals in 1995 and 1996, before his move to Italy.

With Inter, he won the Uefa Cup in 1998, before joining Arsenal in January 1999, where he won two Premiership titles and the FA Cup.

He scored 44 goals in 198 games for the Gunners, and was also a member of Nigeria's Olympic gold-medal winning team in 1996.

Megson said Kanu would not be the last new face to arrive at The Hawthorns, but warned fans against expecting one player to transform the team.

"One of the things I mentioned to Kanu was that we would be bringing in other players.

"And while he will make a difference to us, it's important we don't just think this signing will transform us overnight, although it is a massive signing for us."