Why Reyes Cleary left West Brom, £5m transfer news and sell-on clause update
West Brom fans have had to sit and helplessly watch Reyes Cleary grow into a potential superstar since his departure in the summer.
Barnsley signed Cleary on a free transfer after he rejected the Baggies’ fresh contract offer at the end of his deal.
Albion sent the 21-year-old on multiple loans, and after spells away with Hartlepool United and Walsall, the Baggies were still convinced that he could one day make the step up to the Championship.
Cleary has been making waves since leaving The Hawthorns, making supporters question the Black Country club’s ambition to keep the winger.
But there may be lots of factors that Baggies fans are forgetting when it comes to Cleary‘s exit.
Reyes Cleary’s Injuries and past troubles at West Brom
Barnsley played Liverpool in the FA Cup third round on Monday, with Cleary’s performance catching the attention of national media, and of course, West Brom supporters.
The Tykes lost 4-1, but the attacker was a key standout for Conor Hourihane’s side, which has brought up questions around his West Brom departure once again.
| Games | Goals | Assists |
| 25 | 5 | 8 |
The truth is, Cleary has a lot of injury problems at West Brom, and a player of his age sustaining multiple setbacks would have worried any club – not just Albion.
From the 2021-22 season until the 2024-25 campaign, Cleary made seven appearances for the Baggies, failing to register a goal contribution in any of the games.
West Brom gave the forward chances, albeit not many, but he never fully grasped the opportunity to impress when it mattered.
It would also be hard to forget when Cleary hinted at his West Brom exit on social media back in 2022, which may have also caused internal questioning around the young man’s attitude.
Regardless, it’s great to see him doing well for Barnsley, with Albion potentially set to make a profit soon.
Details of West Brom’s sell-on clause for Cleary
Although Cleary left West Brom for nothing, the Baggies could soon see a cash windfall if Barnsley decided to cash in on the left-winger.
The January transfer window is now here, and Cleary’s impressive performances are bound to attract the attention of Championship sides and possibly even clubs abroad.
According to Express & Star in June, West Brom have inserted a sell-on clause into Cleary’s contract with Barnsley, as it would be no surprise if the percentage is high for the Albion to profit from.
It’s since been reported that Barnsley value Cleary at £5million.
His exit will always remain controversial, but Cleary was out of contract last summer, and Albion did their best in what was a difficult decision for Shilen Patel and Co. to make.