Five rising stars West Brom have lost as Newcastle become latest to raid The Hawthorns
West Brom have lost a number of talented players over the years, which has made it difficult for them to become an established Premier League side.
The Baggies were most recently in the Premier League in 2021, but since then have been a Championship outfit.
Ryan Mason joined from Tottenham in the summer and he’s tasked with securing promotion in the 2025/26 season.
Three new signings have been made, and Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer is expected to be the fourth, with him moving to the Hawthorns on loan.
Muawiya Ghanem leaves West Brom for Newcastle
Newcastle bolstered their academy with a new signing for the 2025/26 season by securing the services of Muawiya Ghanem.
The 14-year-old midfielder officially joined the Magpies after leaving West Brom, taking to Instagram to announce his move.
Ghanem will integrate into Newcastle’s Under-15s squad, marking the latest addition to their youth setup.
The youngster thanked the Baggies for the experiences and moments he shared with them.
Louie Barry
West Brom lost Louie Barry in July 2019 when the then 16-year-old striker joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy, lured by the prospect of training with stars like Lionel Messi.
After a decade in Albion’s academy, his departure was controversial as FIFA ruled the Baggies received no compensation due to not formally offering a scholarship.
Barry then joined Aston Villa in January 2020 for £880,000, a move that stung Albion fans given his potential.
Morgan Rogers
Morgan Rogers, a Halesowen native, left West Brom in 2019 at 16 after impressing in their academy, which he joined at the age of seven.
Manchester City signed him for £4million following his standout FA Youth Cup semi-final performance.
After loan spells and a £1million move to Middlesbrough, he joined Aston Villa for up to £16million.
West Brom’s failure to retain him, despite his early debut in the FA Cup, remains a regret for the club.
Finn Azaz
Finn Azaz departed West Brom in 2021 after 12 years in their academy, joining Aston Villa at 21 for an estimated £2.5 million fee.
Despite a loan at Cheltenham, the attacking midfielder never played for Albion’s first team.
After loans at Newport and Plymouth, where he won a League One title, Villa sold him to Middlesbrough for £2.5million in 2024.
His exit, alongside other talents, highlighted West Brom’s struggle to retain promising academy players.
Tim Ireogbunam
Tim Iroegbunam, a highly-rated midfielder, left West Brom for Aston Villa in 2021 for a six-figure compensation fee, never having played a senior game for Albion despite being named on the bench in the 2020/21 Premier League season.
After 19 appearances for Villa, he moved to Everton in 2024.
His departure, part of a trend of losing talent to rivals, frustrated West Brom fans and underscored issues in their youth retention strategy.
Nathan Ferguson
Nathan Ferguson emerged as a key player for West Brom in the 2019/20 season, making 21 appearances under Slaven Bilic during their promotion campaign.
However, the defender left for Crystal Palace in 2020 on a free transfer after his contract expired, with Albion receiving just £900,000 in compensation.
Injuries have since derailed his career, leaving him without a club, but his exit highlighted the Baggies’ vulnerability to losing academy talents to better-run clubs.
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