West Brom reject Kyle Patterson is thrilled with his move to LA Galaxy. Five years ago, Patterson was a teenager coming to terms with rejection by West Bromwich Albion. Last Thursday, he became David Beckham's team-mate when he was picked by the Galaxy in Major League Soccer's annual SuperDraft of the top US collegiate players.

Patterson, 23, made his way from Sutton Coldfield to St Louis University when at the age of 18, he was released from West Brom's youth academy after three years at The Hawthorns.

Taking up the offer of an athletics scholarship on the soccer program which produced USA international striker Brian McBride, Patterson proved a big hit in the US collegiate game, leading the St Louis scoring from midfield last season and catching the eye of scouts and coaches from MLS.

Having graduated early with a communications degree, Patterson impressed those same coaches further in Florida two weeks ago at the MLS Combine, when invited draft hopefuls were put through their paces, and he found himself picked up by the Galaxy last Thursday.

"I did think I'd missed my chance with West Brom once I got released but it had always been a dream of mine to play soccer and I never really gave up on it," Patterson said.

"Getting released from West Brom was a setback but it's great to back and I'm really looking forward to it."

Patterson's instant reaction to being drafted by the Galaxy was to think of the LA team's star player.

"My initial thought was that I'd be getting a chance to play with David Beckham but also that this will be a chance to play football and train day in, day out again.

"It's going to be a great opportunity."

The midfielder wasn't the only member of the Patterson family thrilled at the prospect of him joining the Galaxy.

"My brother was very happy," Patterson said. "He's six years old and he was on the website and saw my name with David Beckham's and that made him pretty happy."