Highly-rated Henry joins Brentford

Championship Brentford have signed talented Walsall youngster Rico Hall on a five-year deal.

He commands an initial £1.5 million, the highest fee the Bees have ever paid for a teenager.

The 19-year-old, who is most comfortable at left-back, arrives in West London after playing a starring role in Walsall’s run to last season’s play-off semi-finals, and drew admiring glances from Liverpool and Arsenal.

Current Brentford boss Dean Smith handed Henry his Saddler’s debut while in charge of the Midlands club, and the teenager went on to make 58 appearances, scoring three goals.

He also established himself in England‘s under-19 side, and was shortlisted in last season’s Football League Young Player of the Year awards.

On Henry signing, Smith said: “Rico is a player I worked with at Walsall and threw him into the first team at 16 in pre-season friendlies.

“He more than held his own in those games, he had no fear, and was playing in League One shortly afterwards.

“He’s a talented player, fearless, and likes to bring the ball to opponents.

“I’m surprised and delighted we’ve got Rico to the football club as I thought a Premier League side would have signed him by now.”

Henry is currently sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, and could face three months on the touchline after suffering the injury earlier this month, but will be raring to go when fit.