Commanding centre-half Martin Albrechtsen is Derby County's eighth summer signing after arriving from West Bromwich Albion.

The 28-year-old Dane has experience of Premier League football and was also a promotion-winner during his time at the Hawthorns.

Albrechtsen, who has joined on a free transfer and signed a two-year deal, is a proven quality player at the highest level and rejected the attentions of several clubs in favour of a move to Pride Park Stadium.

Derby gaffer Paul Jewell acknowledged the capture of Albrechtsen as "fantastic", and called it a "real boost" with the Rams back in pre-season training.

He told www.dcfc.co.uk:: "Martin is a player who had a lot of options with some very good clubs.

"He has chosen to join us and that speaks volumes about the pull and ambition of Derby County.

"This is the kind of signing that makes a statement of intent in this division and shows that we mean business.

"He is a quality centre half and has proven pedigree at gaining promotion to the Premier League.

"Martin has all the key attributes to be successful at this level and well beyond and having just turned 28 years of age we are getting him in the prime of his career."

Jewell has said he wants to get as many of his squad in place as possible by the opening day of the 2008/09 season as he looks to build a push for promotion back to the Premier League.

He has already snapped up Kris Commons, Nathan Ellington, Jordan Stewart, Paul Green, Paul Connolly, Ruben Zadkovich and Steven Davies.

All of his signings are at an age where they have gained experience but still have plenty of time to progress in their careers and are hungry to do so.

And Jewell is expecting more transfer movement over the coming weeks.

He said: "Adding Martin to the seven signings we have already made and with the business and deals still in the pipeline the squad is really taking shape now."

Albrechtsen began his career in Denmark with Akademisk BK before joining FC Copenhagen in 2002 - as a replacement for former Rams captain Jacob Laursen.

The Baggies snapped him up for a then-club record £2.5m in the summer of 2004 following their promotion to the Premier League and he played a key role in their great escape from relegation that season.

As well as 55 top-flight appearances, Albrechtsen also has 63 Coca-Cola Championship outings to his name and was a regular in their title-winning side last season.

Albrechtsen's club career tally is 288 games, with 11 goals, and a further six international caps for Denmark.

He stands six feet two inches tall and weighs in at over 12 stones.

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