Shilen Patel sends emotional message to Kyle Bartley as West Brom defender retires
Shilen Patel has a massive task on his hands to find a replacement after West Brom defender Kyle Bartley retired.
The centre-back joined the Baggies in 2018 from Swansea and was one of their key players for several seasons.
Bartley has hung up his boots after making 232 appearances for the Albion over his seven-year spell.
Ryan Mason has lost a leader in the ex-Arsenal ace, and the 34-year-old will definitely be missed at the West Midlands outfit in the 2025/26 campaign.
Bartley thanked by Patel after retirement
Patel has hailed Bartley’s attitude at West Brom over the years as the centre-back closes a significant chapter of his life.
The American businessman showered praise on the English defender for all of his contributions at The Hawthorns over the years.
Patel wished the 34-year-old the best in his future endeavours in what will arguably be a sad day for many supporters in B71.
The Baggies’ chairman wrote on X (8 August): “Thank you, Kyle, for all you have given to the club in your time here. Thankful for your toughness, leadership, and passion and wishing you all the best in retirement. You’ll always be a part of the Albion!”
Read More: Why West Brom might have to sell Torbjorn Heggem – and it’s all thanks to Guochuan Lai
Who will replace Bartley at The Hawthorns?
Mason wants to sign a new centre-back at The Hawthorns this summer, and Bartley’s exit has made further reinforcements imperative at West Brom.
The Baggies are set to face Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday (9 August) as they open their competitive season.
As things stand, Nat Phillips and Torbjorn Heggem will likely start for the Albion at centre-back, but that partnership may not last for long.
| Player | Age |
| Heggem | 26 |
| Phillips | 28 |
| George Campbell | 24 |
| Caleb Taylor | 22 |
Bologna want to sign the Norwegian defender from West Brom before the end of August, which will arguably give the recruitment department a headache.
The Baggies signed George Campbell from CF Montreal recently to bolster their backline, but could potentially need several new additions soon.
It will be interesting to see whether Albion will look to the loan market or sign someone permanently to give Mason more options in defence this season.
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