Paddy McNair transfer can solve two clear problems at once for West Brom
West Brom signing Northern Ireland international Paddy McNair on loan from San Diego FC should prove to be a shrewd acquisition next season.
The Baggies announced on 25 July via their club website that the former Sunderland and Middlesbrough utility player had signed on a half-season loan deal until the end of 2024 from the debuting MLS side.
McNair, 29, will therefore be available in Carlos Corberan’s side until the start of the January transfer window, and his capability to play both across the backline and in midfield could prove crucial.
The Northern Ireland international’s versatility will be a welcome addition for Corberan given the number of player’s he’s already lost this summer, and could help to direct their future transfer business.
Paddy McNair transfer solves two problems at once for West Brom
While McNair is the fourth incoming player – and first loanee – of a busy summer at The Hawthorns so far, most of the transfer activity at Albion has been to wave goodbye to several key players.
Although yet to be confirmed, it’s been reported that centre-back Cedric Kipre will head to Reims in France [Fabrizio Romano, 24 July], while Okay Yokuslu is also on the brink of a £2million switch to former side Trabzonspor [Ertan Suzgun, 21 July].
Add that to the departures of Nathaniel Chalobah, Yann M’Vila, Adam Reach, Martin Kelly and Erik Pieters, the Baggies have huge holes to fill in midfield, central defence, and at right-back.
Luckily for Corberan though, McNair has covered all three of these positions across seven seasons in the Championship, and will provide depth across the park should injuries bite early in the campaign.
Should his loan switch be successful, McNair could prove equally adept in either defence, midfield, or both for the Baggies – but Albion fans will hope he’s not too successful, as this would leave double the amount of reinforcements needed once the Northern Irishman heads to San Diego in January 2025!
In other West Brom news, the club learned their full punishment for the crowd trouble in their fiery FA Cup tie with Wolves last season.
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