Credit: Imago

Rahul Lakhani

Sun 11 May 2025 21:00, UK

West Brom star Tom Fellows has been a shining light in an otherwise underwhelming season, but he could have ended up elsewhere.

Fellows was outstanding all season as he racked up 14 Championship assists, and he may even depart for a big fee this summer.

West Brom brought Fellows through the academy system, and he has now reached the first team to make an incredible impact.

The 21-year-old is a fan favourite, but he could have easily ended up at cross-city rivals Birmingham City.

Fellows could have joined Birmingham City

Although he is a West Brom academy product, Fellows comes from a family of Birmingham fans, and could have easily ended up in their academy instead.

Birmingham journalist Alex Dicken has now said that Birmingham’s inability to secure a local talent like Fellows was a failing of their academy.

“Born in Solihull to a Blues-supporting family, Fellows grew up in Longbridge – a short distance from Wast Hills. Fellows should have found his way into the club’s academy,” he wrote in the Birmingham Mail (11 May).

The Birmingham academy has produced players such as Jude and Jobe Bellingham in recent years, but they missed out on Fellows, whose father is a supporter of the Blues.

West Brom to profit from academy excellence

West Brom’s use of their academy has reaped benefits, with a player as good as Fellows coming through and saving them a lot of money in the transfer market.

If Fellows does leave this summer, it will be for a significant fee, and one which would count as pure profit in terms of financial fair play.

Giving chances to West Brom’s talented youngsters will reap rewards, either through performance levels or financially, and this is something the next manager will have to take advantage of.

West Brom are yet to appoint a new head coach, but whoever comes in will either inherit a huge talent in Fellows, or be given the funds from his sale to invest in other players.