There was considerable surprise that the youngster was allowed out of the Hammers at a price of just £800,00.
Browne is managed by Ferdinand’s management company New Era Global Sports which is headed by his former agent Jamie Moralee.
And it was Rio who took a hand in the deal when finally persuaded his England colleague Jonathon Woodgate to give the youngster his chance after he had enjoyed a brilliant loan spell at Oxford last season and where boss Karl Robinson was desperately keen to sign him.