Tony Brown was spot on about Torbjorn Heggem just weeks after he signed for West Brom
West Brom have announced the exit of Torbjorn Heggem to Bologna.
Heggem was a rock last season for the Baggies, despite a turbulent season where The Albion had three different managers.
Heggem added defensive stability as West Brom maintained the fifth-best defence in the Championship.
Despite only spending one season at The Hawthorns, Heggem has become a fan favourite in the West Midlands, and supporters will be sad to see the back of the defender.
Tony Brown was right to call Heggem a ‘cult hero’
West Brom could bank up to £8.6million from selling Heggem, with links to Italy appearing weeks before everything was ironed out.
With the Baggies recruiting Nat Phillips and George Campbell, Ryan Mason’s side aren’t short of defenders, but Heggem will be a huge miss.
The 26-year-old has been recognised by supporters as their best defender by a landslide, and West Brom legend Tony Brown even claimed he had the ability to become a ‘cult hero’ with the Baggies, only weeks after signing.
Asked by Steve Hermon at the start of last season if the defender could take on cult-like status, Brown said: “He could. With those dangly legs and his style of play.”
- Heggem played all but one of West Brom’s Championship games last season
- He was named the club’s player of the season for the 2024/25 campaign
- West Brom kept 14 clean sheets last season
The defender has not just earned the respect from supporters for his antics on the pitch but also for his attitude off it.
When transfer interest from Bologna was increasing, Heggem didn’t once refuse to play for the Baggies and never pushed for a move away.
West Brom will secure an important fee and huge profit, having paid just £500,000 for the 26-year-old.
Where will West Brom spend the Heggem money?
The Baggies are continuing their hunt for more additions.
Mason’s side have so far struggled in the transfer window, but the injection of cash from Heggem’s sale could change that.
West Brom are closing in on the loan signing of Tom Collyer from Manchester United and could focus their spending elsewhere.
West Brom are still in need of attacking reinforcements, given the injuries to Daryl Dike and Tammer Bany.
Therefore, the money made from Heggem’s sale could be focused on bringing in a new striker to take the weight off Aune Heggebo, with several new additions now possible again.
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