West Brom forward says goodbye to fans, Daryl Dike reacts – ‘My heart is broken’
West Brom are poised to enter a new era, with Ryan Mason close to being appointed as their new manager.
The Baggies will want to cement that arrival with more fresh faces, and Mikey Moore has been tipped to follow Mason to West Brom.
As well as incomings, there have also been outgoings at The Hawthorns, as the West Midlands club announced its retained list.
Several long-serving players have departed the Championship club, and it has been too much for Daryl Dike to take.
Daryl Dike could not hide his despair at West Brom departure
After missing out on their top-six goal, West Brom will be hoping to make amends by appointing the right manager.
The club’s goal for next season will certainly be to finish in a play-off position as a minimum as they eye a Premier League return.
With that mission on the agenda, the Baggies have announced their retained list, with a host of names departing.
Semi Ajayi, Grady Diangana, and John Swift lead the list of departures, with over 500 West Brom appearances between them.
For Diangana, the news of his exit spelled the end of a six-year stay at The Hawthorns, where he truly left his mark.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 202 | 26 | 22 |
The 27-year-old posted an emotional parting message on his Instagram account (1 June), which Dike commented on.
Dike said: “Ugh yep my heart is broken,” followed by the zipped mouth emoji.
The choice of emoji is likely to cause a stir, given it suggests he is not best pleased at Diangana’s farewell to The Hawthorns.
Clearly, he is not happy with the decision, but West Brom will believe they made the correct call.
Diangana still has something to offer amid Baggies departure
Many will argue that Diangana’s best years are behind him, and they may be right.
The winger’s influence in the West Midlands has declined somewhat, with his output down on the previous campaign.
Diangana totaled seven goal involvements in the Championship during 2024/25, less than half of the previous year.
However, at 27, the Congolese man will believe he still has something to offer and would be a neat addition for whoever takes him.
The fact that he is available on a free will appeal to suitors, and he could pop up again in the Championship.
If he does, then West Brom will pray that Diangana does not come back to deal them a bitter Baggies blow.