Credit: Imago

Evan Shaw

Fri 14 November 2025 10:00, UK

West Brom may face a very realistic possibility of Josh Maja securing a move away in the January transfer window.

The striker has only recently returned from a serious injury that cut his 2024-25 campaign short back in January, and he has shown signs of rustiness of late.

Maja recently made his 50th appearance for West Brom, but he could be close to his final outing in a Baggies shirt if his future is not addressed in the near future.

Ryan Mason has stressed the 26-year-old importance since his appointment in the summer, but with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, the boss may have to live without the frontman in future, if swift action isn’t taken.

West Brom need to tie Josh Maja down before January

Maja is nearing a return to full fitness at West Brom, as he managed 90 minutes for the first time this term in the recent draw with Sheffield Wednesday at the start of November.

Mason’s men have missed the frontman’s abilities at the peak of his powers of late, and he will surely become increasingly important for them in the coming weeks as he continues to build up his minutes.

With that in mind, it is imperative that they tie him down to a new deal before the end of 2025, to ensure that a very realistic fear doesn’t materialise for them in January.

Maja excelled during a stint with Bordeaux earlier in his career, and given that he notched 16 goals in Ligue 2 during his last campaign in France, it would be no surprise to see continental sides show an interest in him in January.

That would potentially present a major problem for Albion, as European clubs are able to sign players from England on a pre-contract agreement, six months ahead of when their deals actually expire, and they become free agents.

As a result, there is surely a fresh sense of urgency for the Baggies to tie down the poacher within the next few weeks, or they risk his future potentially falling out of their hands in the January window.

• Read More: Ryan Mason cannot ignore Josh Maja signs any longer as eye-catching West Brom stat emerges

Josh Maja is clear superior to Aune Heggebo in this stat

Aune Heggebo’s start to life at West Brom has been one of the major debates among the fanbase so far in 2025-26.

Many supporters feel that the Norway international works hard and provides a valuable physical presence at the top of the pitch, while others perceive him to have a lack of quality.

However, the need to extend Maja’s deal becomes abundantly clear when you compare him to Heggebo in these key stats.

The Englishman boasts both a stronger conversion rate and a better goalscoring frequency than the Albion new boy, who is simply nowhere near as capable in front of goal as his teammate.

Mason’s men have had difficulties finding the back of the net at times this season, and their long-term striker future will look fairly bleak if they allow their most natural finisher to walk away for free.

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