Rothwell deal ‘could be gamechanger’ for West Brom after events at Leeds United
West Brom will be aiming for a spot in the Championship play-offs next season after narrowly missing out in 2024-25.
Ryan Mason has the task of picking up a West Brom squad who endured a terrible end to the campaign.
Mason, who is set to undertake the first full-time managerial role in his career, will need to bring fresh faces to The Hawthorns to revamp his squad.
Familiar faces like John Swift have already been allowed to leave the club on a free transfer following their disappointing seasons, with a new era set to begin in the Black Country.
Joe Rothwell would be a phenomenal signing for West Brom
The Baggies’ rebuild under Mason is already in motion, with Tom Lawrence being linked with a move to West Brom after his contract at Rangers expired.
Joe Rothwell would also be a fantastic signing for this rebuild if Albion can secure the midfielder’s signature.
Rothwell, 30, was an instrumental figure at Elland Road last season as Leeds United secured promotion to the Premier League after amassing 100 points.
| Joe Rothwell | Championship stats (2024/25) |
| Appearences | 36 |
| Starts | 24 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Key passes per game | 1.7 |
| Pass accuracy per game | 91% |
| Balls recovered per game | 2.6 |
Bournemouth have loaned out the creative midfielder in the last two seasons, to the aforementioned Leeds and also to Southampton, where Rothwell won promotion with both clubs.
With a future at Bournemouth seemingly unlikely and Leeds in the market for other midfield options, West Brom could take advantage and sign the Englishman.
With Rothwell’s contract with the Cherries expiring next summer, Albion could sign the midfielder for a reduced fee or even attempt to get him on loan for the upcoming season.
West Brom are undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in the Championship, and they could sell this, along with the prospect of playing under a exciting new manager, to bring Rothwell to The Hawthorns.
West Brom need more Championship experience
West Brom have also released players like Grady Diangana and Semi Ajayi, so bringing in Championship-ready players is key.
Rothwell could be a perfect replacement for Swift, offering versatility to Mason, who could deploy him as a number ten like in his days at Blackburn, or further back as part of a midfield pairing like he was used at Leeds.
Bringing a player of Rothwell’s proven quality in would be a real sign of West Brom’s ambition for next season.
The playmaker’s ability to drive at defences and progress the ball would be a useful asset for Mason to have next season as West Brom aim to finish in the top six.
Given his promotion pedigree and likely availability to a top-end Championship club, signing Rothwell could well be a game-changer for Albion.