Everything West Brom fans need to know about new signing Max O’Leary as personal terms agreed
Championship strugglers West Brom are set to secure their first January signing in Max O’Leary.
This season has been a turbulent one for the Baggies. West Brom appointed Ryan Mason as their new head coach last summer but he has already been sacked.
Earlier this month, West Brom appointed Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay as his successor, but two defeats in a row, the second of which was a 5-0 rout at home to Norwich City, has done nothing to lift the gloom around The Hawthorns.
Things may be looking up as West Brom are primed to sign Bristol City goalkeeper O’Leary on a six-month deal in a bid to plug their leaky defence, with personal terms having been agreed.
But who is O’Leary? To answer that question, West Brom News has dug a little deeper into the 29-year-old, who was also sought after by Derby County, Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers.
FA Cup dream to international breakthrough
O’Leary was born in Bath and attended Beechen Cliff School. He joined Bristol City as an under-11 and progressed through the South West club’s academy, impressing as he went.
After 10 years at the club, he made his City debut as a 19-year-old in the FA Cup third round when he replaced the injured Frank Fielding in a 2-2 draw at West Brom.
He made another appearance for the Robins that season in the famous old competition before heading out on loan to National League club Kidderminster Harriers.
The youngster only made five outings that season but the following campaign was a much more fruitful one.
Indeed, he played 38 times on loan at National League South side Bath City in 2016-17, before going back up a tier Solihull Moors the following season for 25 appearances.
Finally, in 2018-19, O’Leary was given a chance to shine at City in the Championship and while he played 16 games that season, Niki Maenpaa was ultimately preferred in between the sticks.
Yet another loan spell followed, this time at League One Shrewsbury Town in 2019-20, where he played 34 times but it wasn’t until 2022 where he really made his mark at City.
After featuring in 37 matches for the Bristol outfit that season, he played every minute of every Championship contest they played in the previous two campaigns. And, in 2025, he got his first Republic of Ireland cap, too, after six long years of call-ups.
But with Manchester United loanee Radek Vitek now Bristol’s number one, O’Leary is heading to West Brom – who sit 19th, just three points above the relegation zone. This is the end of an era for the 6ft 1in keeper after nearly 20 years at City.
What can West Brom fans expect from O’Leary?
West Brom have been linked with many players in January but it looks like O’Leary will be the first one through the door.
O’Leary, who made his Ireland debut in a friendly away at Luxembourg last June, is known for his agility and shot-stopping ability, particularly from long range.
But due to his height, he is unlikely to be a keeper who commands his area with great ease.
Incidentally, the right-footer, who was born on 10 October 1996, has had a consistently solid save percentage in the Championship for City.
In 2022-23, it was at 69.4, the following campaign it rose to 74.7, and last term it was 68.8. That figure last season was bettered by 12 keepers who played 30 Championship games or more.
Josh Griffiths has been West Brom’s first-choice keeper this season but it remains to be seen if that will still be the case when O’Leary joins.