Credit: Imago

Evan Shaw

Fri 1 August 2025 14:41, UK

West Brom have had a frustrating summer so far since Ryan Mason’s appointment.

The transfer window has perhaps not gone as smoothly as many people had expected for the B71 outfit, who have still made just three additions to their squad since the start of the summer.

Throw in some disappointing pre-season results, and West Brom have largely lost the feeling of optimism from when Mason first came in.

The Baggies have just one friendly remaining before they return to competitive action, and with that in mind, West Brom News makes three bold predictions for their 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Nat Phillips to make the Championship Team of the Season

One of the few new faces to arrive at West Brom this summer is Nat Phillips, with the centre back joining from Liverpool for a fee of around £3million.

The 28-year-old had a hugely impressive loan stint at Derby County last season, where he played a crucial role as John Eustace’s side dragged themselves out of relegation trouble in the latter stages of the season.

He should be a particularly shrewd piece of business for the Baggies, as he possesses the perfect skillset for a defender in the Championship.

Phillips is aerially dominant, reads the game well and is also far from the slowest centre back around.

West Brom had an excellent defensive record last term, with just the top four sides in the division shipping fewer goals by the end of the campaign.

If they can maintain their resolute nature this term, Phillips could become a key figure for them, and if so, it would be no surprise to see him receive recognition from the EFL at the end of the season.

Mason to lead West Brom to play-off spot

West Brom have got a highly-rated coach on their hands in Mason, even if that has perhaps not become clear yet over the course of pre-season.

The former Spurs academy coach has an excellent reputation within the game, and he has all the credentials to be able to make his mark on this Baggies side and take it to new levels this term.

2024/25 ended in frustrating fashion with another failed play-off push, but there is reason to believe that things could be different this time around.

Subtle tweaks have been the order of the day in the transfer market, rather than wholesale changes within the squad.

The Baggies were not far away from achieving their goal last time out, and with a little more firepower in their ranks this time around, it could be the crucial difference to help Mason lay the ghosts of last season to rest.

Josh Maja to end the season as West Brom’s top scorer

There has been plenty of hype surrounding Aune Heggebo’s move to West Brom, but it could still be a familiar face who leads the team in goals.

Josh Maja finally returned from a lengthy injury lay-off in the recent defeat to Lincoln City, as he got his first minutes since 4 January.

• Maja joined West Brom for free in the summer of 2023 after leaving Bordeaux
• The striker had 12 goals to his name by the first week of January last season
• He still ended as West Brom’s top scorer, despite missing the last 20 games

The frontman’s absence in the second half of 2024/25 was a big contributor to the West Midlands outfit running out of steam at the end of the season, and if they can keep him fit this time around then they should reap the rewards.

Heggebo understandably has big expectations attached to his name after his £4.75m move, but Maja is a top-quality option at Championship level.

He ended 2024/25 as the Baggies’ top scorer with 12 league goals from just 26 games, and it would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t push towards 20 this season, fitness permitting.

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