The 29-year-old passed a medical and agreed terms last Friday and the deal was finalised the next day but the player then had to secure a work permit and visa.

Odemwingie, who has signed a two-year deal with the option of a further year, arrived back in England last night and could make his debut against Sunderland tomorrow if the club receive international clearance in time.

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Odemwingie, who has dual Russian and Nigerian citizenship, has spent the last four seasons with Lokomotiv, scoring 21 goals in 70 starts.

Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo told www.wba.co.uk: "I'm delighted to welcome Peter to the club.

"He is an exciting international, has a great CV and I'm sure seeing a player of his calibre coming into the club will give everyone a lift.

"Peter has got great pace, is two-footed, scores goals and has good experience at a very high level. We've brought him in as a striker but he can also play out wide, which gives me options."

Odemwingie is Di Matteo's sixth permanent signing of the summer, following Steven Reid, Gabriel Tamas, Pablo Ibanez, Boaz Myhill and Nicky Shorey to The Hawthorns.