West Bromwich Albion bosses are fuming with Barcelona for prematurely announcing the signing of Louie Barry, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

Barcelona confirmed the signing of Barry on Thursday, but Albion have reportedly not yet completed the paperwork which would allow him to ply his trade in Spain.

The 16-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the Catalan giants following his decision to turn down an offer of professional terms at The Hawthorns, where he has played since the age of six.

West Brom are set to receive a reported compensation fee of just £235,000 for Barry's services, with Albion bosses believing this fee to be "paltry" given Barry's talent.

Barry did not make a senior appearance for Albion, but he was involved in seven goals for the under-18 side last term. He was also a stand-out performer for England Under 16s earlier this year, when he scored two goals in four games during the Montaigu Tournament.

The Verdict

West Brom have every right to be angry with Barcelona for announcing this signing too early. The Spanish club should have waited until West Brom's side of the deal was done, as this now creates the risk of the transfer being jeopardised.

However, I think the real issue here is the compensation fee. Barry is an immensely talented player and West Brom should really be receiving a much higher fee for his services.

This meagre fee is what will have really angered West Brom, as UEFA's rules dictate that £235,000 is the maximum they could have earned from Barry. I think this system needs to be looked at as a large number of European clubs would have been tracking the 16-year-old.

West Brom must now ensure they don't let a similar situation unfold in the future, and they can do this by tying down their young talent to long-term deals early on in their careers.