Defensive flop and hero Horsfield – Past West Brom transfers from Birmingham after Bielik announced
West Brom have secured the signing of Krystian Bielik from fierce rivals Birmingham.
The Baggies moved quickly to sign the Polish international from St Andrews on Thursday, with West Brom agreeing a £1million-plus deal.
Bielik becomes West Brom’s fourth signing of the summer after The Albion recruited Aune Heggebo, George Campbell, and Nat Phillips earlier in the window.
The Baggies rarely do business with Birmingham, but when they do, the moves can produce fireworks.
Liam Ridgewell’s controversial time at The Hawthorns
Liam Ridgewell joined West Brom in 2012 after impressing for Birmingham in the Championship.
West Brom had just finished in an impressive 11th place in the Premier League under Roy Hodgson.
Ridgewell had an impressive debut season in the West Midlands, having helped the Baggies to an eighth-place finish.
- The Baggies kept seven clean sheets in the 2012/13 season
- They conceded 59 goals in the 2013/14 season
However, his performances started to drop in his second season as West Brom finished 17th and narrowly avoided relegation by just three points.
His on-pitch performances and off-pitch antics caused worry among supporters as he was pictured using money as toilet paper, which was branded as out of touch by fans.
The Baggies elected not to extend his contract, and he went on to play for Portland Timbers in America before retiring in 2020.
Geoff Horsfield remembered for the great escape
Geoff Horsfield joined the Baggies in 2003 and made his debut in a 1-0 defeat to Coventry.
He was a key player in the 2003/04 Championship, scoring seven goals in half a season to fire the Baggies into the top-flight.
In the 2004/05 season, no side had previously sat bottom of the table at Christmas in the top division of English football and managed to survive relegation.
Horsfield and the Baggies helped change that as he scored with his first touch as a substitute on the final day of the season against Portsmouth, which helped secure a 2-0 victory and survival for the club.
Sign up for the West Brom News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking West Bromwich Albion news sent straight to your phone.