Youssouf Mulumbu and free transfer masterstroke – West Brom’s best ever deadline day deals
West Brom will be hopeful of adding a few more new faces to their squad ahead of transfer deadline day.
The Baggies have had several exciting deadline days over the years, having completed some impressive deals in the latter stages of windows.
It is usually a day that is synonymous with constant movement in the transfer market and plenty of rapid-fire negotiations.
However, Ryan Mason and Co. will be hoping that they can act coolly to recreate some of their most shrewd pieces of business from years gone by.
With that in mind, West Brom News picks out five examples of deadline day deals that have set a glowing example at The Hawthorns over the years.
Youssouf Mulumbu – PSG to West Brom
Youssouf Mulumbu joined West Brom from PSG on an initial loan deal on 2 February 2009, and made the move permanent at the end of that campaign for a fee of around £175,000.
The acquisition of the then-22-year-old proved to be a masterstroke for Albion, as he went on to make almost 200 appearances across seven seasons in blue and white stripes.
He was part of two top-half Premier League finishes during his time in B71, and was a crucial part of what was a fantastic era for the Baggies.
For that reason, he has to stand as their best-ever deadline day signing.
Darren Fletcher – Manchester United to West Brom
Darren Fletcher is pound-for-pound one of the Baggies’ best ever signings, let alone on deadline day.
He joined on a free transfer from Manchester United on 3 February 2015, and quickly became Tony Pulis’ captain in B71.
The then-31-year-old was a metronome at the heart of the midfield for Albion across his two-and-a-half years in their ranks, and failed to miss a single game.
He was named in the starting XI for all bar one of those clashes, and showcased a remarkable level of consistency in the middle of the park.
Craig Dawson – Rochdale to West Brom
Craig Dawson joined West Brom from Rochdale on 31 August 2010 before immediately being loaned back to the then League One outfit.
The centre back had to wait until August 2011 to make his Albion debut, but he made up for lost time with 194 appearances in the club’s colours.
Dawson was another regular feature of the Baggies’ time in the top flight, and was a reliable and consistent performer across over eight campaigns at The Hawthorns.
Curtis Davies – Luton to West Brom
West Brom plucked Curtis Davies out of the third tier when they signed him from Luton Town for £3million on 31 August 2005.
The centre-back was just 20 when he made that move, but he made huge strides during his two-year stay at The Hawthorns.
The youngster became a quality defender at Championship level and was named as club captain in his second full campaign.
Unfortunately for the Baggies, their relegation to the second tier at the end of Davies’ first season with them ensured the writing was on the wall, and he moved on to Aston Villa on an initial loan deal in August 2007.
Mikey Johnston – Celtic to West Brom
The only active player on this list, Mikey Johnston is part of West Brom’s latest contingent who are hopeful of mounting a charge to return to the Premier League.
The winger joined from Celtic on loan on 1 February 2024, and notched seven goals and two assists from just 20 appearances.
The Scot then penned a four-year deal to turn the move permanent in the summer of 2024.
He is now just over one year into that contract, and continues to be an effective option for Mason in the Championship.
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.