Brentford new boy Rico Henry has undergone surgery to help correct a lingering shoulder problem.
The Bees will pay up to a club record £5million for the left back if all clauses are met as well as giving the Saddlers £1.5m up front.
Henry first suffered a dislocated shoulder in 2015 which led to him to miss Walsall's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final defeat to Bristol City and then suffered a recurrence in August this year, making a headed clearance against Oldham.
No timescale has been placed on a return but it is expected to rule Henry out until January.
“The shoulder injury that Rico sustained in early August was a recurrence of an injury that he sustained originally in 2015,” head of medical Neil Greig said.
“We were well aware of the issue before he arrived at the club and as part of a thorough medical assessment we sought the most appropriate expert opinions.
“Those opinions demonstrated that there was a very high risk of future injury for a number of reasons, which could prolong the issue throughout Rico's career.
“However, having the injury repaired would significantly lower that risk and give Rico the best opportunity of being successful moving forwards.
“As with all such decisions at the club, there were very open discussions between the medical staff, the player and the senior management.
“We were united in our belief that proceeding with surgery at this point is in the best long-term interests of both the player and the club.
“Rico will now recuperate at home for the next 10 to 14 days before returning to the club to begin his early rehabilitation.
“There is no timescale set for his recovery, as every individual player will recover at a different rate.
“However, there is every optimism that we will see Rico, fit and well, in a Brentford shirt before too long.”
