Kyle Bartley ‘to leave West Brom’ as door opens at The Hawthorns
West Brom are undergoing an intriguing transfer window under Ryan Mason, with several deals currently in the making.
Nat Phillips became the first signing of the Mason era, but there have been eye-catching developments involving departures too.
Mikey Johnston seemed to have secured a switch to Flamengo, but the deal collapsed, meaning he remains at The Hawthorns for the time being.
Now, there has been a significant update on Kyle Bartley, which could spell the end for his West Brom stay.
Bartley’s West Brom future in doubt after recent update
Bartley’s West Brom contract was extended in April after an appearance-based clause was triggered, extending his stay until 2026.
With the arrival of Phillips at The Hawthorns, Bartley’s position in the team has been questioned.
Phillips brings leadership qualities with him to The Hawthorns and would likely partner Torbjørn Heggem in the hub of defence.
Bartley was a regular fixture for the Baggies during the 2024/25 campaign, making 31 appearances in what was an underwhelming season.
| Kyle Bartley’s 2024/25 Championship statistics | Total |
| Appearances (starts) | 31 (30) |
| Clean sheets | 8 |
| Interceptions | 0.7 |
| Tackles per game | 0.8 |
| Clearances | 5.8 |
| Accurate passes | 48.4 (89%) |
Now, the West Midlands club are willing to let Bartley move on and won’t stand in his way if an offer comes in for him, according to Dood (7 July).
The 34-year-old joined the Baggies from Swansea City in 2018 and has made over 200 appearances for the Championship side.
However, his time appears to be up at The Hawthorns if the right offer comes in for him.
Baggies must sign more centre-backs amid possible departures
Bartley is not the only centre-back who could leave this summer, as Caleb Taylor has also been linked with Millwall.
If both were to depart The Hawthorns, then Mason’s options in central defence would be wafer-thin.
Of course, Mason has Phillips and Heggem as primary options, but past them, there are only Bartley and Taylor.
That means that West Brom must prioritise adding competition, regardless of potential sales.
The Championship is a marathon, and the likes of Portsmouth found that out last season, being forced to play a makeshift defence at times due to injury.
Selling Bartley would be a good decision, but the Baggies must ensure they sign an adequate replacement.
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