The Hawthorns, home of West Brom
The Hawthorns, home of West Brom

West Brom player 'set for fresh exit' weeks after Hawthorns return

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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West Brom academy product Reyes Cleary is on the verge of sealing another loan move away in the coming days, according to DOOD.

The Albion insider posted on X (22 January) to report that Cleary will go back out on loan "soon", having only been recalled from his half-season spell at League Two side Walsall on 7 January.

Cleary, 20, scored one goal in just six appearances for the Saddlers, including a shootout-sealing penalty against Birmingham in the EFL Trophy, and will likely move to a club where he'll get more game-time.

DOOD said: "Reyes [Cleary] back out on loan – soon."

West Brom likely to send Reyes Cleary to non-league

Given the rules regarding the number of clubs a player is allowed to feature for in a single season, the fifth tier or below looks set to be the most likely destination for Cleary should Albion loan him out again.

Players aren't allowed to make appearances for more than two clubs in a single season – and Cleary has already filled that quota, making a cameo in the Baggies' EFL Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town in August.

DOOD X

That 18-minute substitute appearance in Albion's 2-1 loss on the Lancashire coast means featuring for a third EFL club of the campaign is out of the question for the forward, leaving Cleary in potential limbo.

Plenty of clubs in the National League would surely be happy to take Cleary on loan for the rest of the campaign, and the fixture pile-up which often occurs at this level could result in plenty of game-time.

The 20-year-old will have a point to prove after falling onto the periphery at Walsall, but it remains to be seen where Cleary ends up as the Albion hierarchy look to continue his development.

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