West Brom sanction loan deal for goalkeeper to leave The Hawthorns
West Brom academy goalkeeper Ben Cisse is set to earn an opportunity away from The Hawthorns.
Joe Wallis and Cisse have been the two main goalkeepers for the West Brom under-21 side, with a number of others out on loan in the lower leagues.
Ronnie Hollingshead is one of the more exciting prospects, and the Wales youth international has thrived on loan at Non-League side Alvechurch FC.
West Brom loan goalkeeper Ben Cisse to Alvechurch FC
Hollingshead will now be joined by one of his West Brom teammates at Alvechurch, with the Non-League Premier Southern Central Division side temporarily boosting their ranks.
Alvechurch announced the loan signing of West Brom under-21 goalkeeper Cisse on a one-month deal.
The West Brom under-21s have endured a difficult campaign, as they sit in 18th place in the Premier League 2. Cisse and Wallis have shared the goalkeeping duties, with their side conceding 37 goals in 17 games this season so far.
| Goalkeeper | Appearances | Goals conceded |
| Ben Cisse | 10 | 23 |
| Joe Wallis | 5 | 9 |
“The Club are delighted to reveal the signing of goalkeeper Ben Cisse from West Brom on a one-month loan deal. The shot-stopper will provide cover and competition,” they announced on their X page.
Cisse, 19, will join Hollingshead at Alvechurch for a month, having been playing regularly at under-21 level, but there is a reason why the two clubs have engaged in this surprising loan deal.
Why West Brom have loaned two goalkeepers to the same club
On the face of it, it seems a strange move to loan two goalkeepers to the same club, given that one will be benched at any given point, but there is a key factor which drove the clubs to complete this deal.
Hollingshead has linked up with the Wales under-21 squad for their upcoming fixtures during the International break, whilst Alvechurch goalkeeper Dale Eve has joined the Bermuda National Team squad.
This meant that Alvechurch needed emergency cover on a short-term basis, which motivated them to complete a deal for Cisse, who will now receive a small opportunity to shine at a senior level.
Once the two goalkeepers return from International duty, Cisse will return to West Brom and continue to play for the under-21 side, for whom he has made 10 appearances in the Premier League 2 this season.