Harry Whitwell’s West Brom loan exit collapses
West Brom were close to agreeing a deal to loan Harry Whitwell out of The Hawthorns in the transfer window but the move fell through, according to Jon Palmer.
Whitwell, 19, was set to gain further senior experience in the fourth tier with Cheltenham Town, but the move was unable to be completed before the 11pm cut-off on transfer deadline day.
The midfielder made his Baggies debut in January 2024 in an FA Cup win over Aldershot Town, and started in this season’s Carabao Cup tie at Fleetwood Town.
West Brom unable to finalise Whitwell move
Palmer, a Gloucestershire Live sports reporter, (7 February) posted on his X account with the information.
“Cheltenham Town were close to signing 19-year-old midfield prospect Harry Whitwell on loan from West Bromwich Albion during the January transfer window, but the move was not finalised,” he shared.
It could have been an exciting move for Whitwell, who is a youth international as far as Under-18 level with England and is searching for the next step in his career, earning vital minutes.
However, the teenage midfield man will now continue his hard work developing at The Hawthorns and learning from Tony Mowbray’s first-team squad when he trains alongside the senior pros.
Whitwell signed a new contract at the Albion last summer, rolling until 2026, after initially becoming a professional in 2022.
Cheltenham Town currently sit just inside the top half of the League Two table in 12th, having won and lost 10 matches apiece.
The Baggies’ Under-21 side are 19th out of 26 in the Premier League 2 standings, though can move up five places by winning their game in hand in the bulked-out professional development division.
Whitwell stays to learn from senior stars
For the rest of this season at least, Whitwell can remain at The Hawthorns and develop under the stewardship of Mowbray, his staff and the academy coaches.
The starlet can learn from the likes of Alex Mowatt, John Swift and Jayson Molumby when stepping up to train with the first team.
The hierarchy at The Hawthorns may have wished for the Carabao Cup run this season to have extended longer than a meek first-round exit at the hands of Fleetwood Town.
The defeat in August – in which the now-departed Mo Faal got himself a memorable goal – gave chances to several academy stars, bidding to become the next Tom Fellows and make a massive senior impact.
With some having left on loan since, it’s a shame for Whitwell that he was unable to get his move – something which is likely to be reassessed in the summer.