West Brom get Joseph Rosales transfer clarity as Austin FC star’s whereabout emerge
Joseph Rosales has been linked with a move to West Brom over the last few hours, but it may not be all what it seems.
It was reported on Wednesday that a Rosales was a potential loan target for West Brom, as Eric Ramsay potentially eyes some last-minute signings ahead of the 2 February deadline.
So far, Max O’Leary remains West Brom’s only new signing of the winter window so far, but the 29-year-old goalkeeper hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts at The Hawthorns.
However, Albion fans have been told to expect one or two more signings before the window shuts, as Shilen Patel potentially fears leaving Ramsay short on quality in order to prevent a relegation disaster this season.
West Brom issued disappointing Joseph Rosales update
It’s no secret that West Brom‘s transfer coffers aren’t close to being full to the brim, with financial hardship having descended on the Baggies in recent years.
However, Albion have always been able to remain largely competitive towards the the Championship play-off places in their last four seasons following Premier League relegation in 2020-21.
As such, expectation among the fanbase for the 2025-26 season was to once again push for a top six spot, but the disappointing and short-lived reign of Ryan Mason has pretty much scuppered that.
So, whilst Albion are only 12 points off sixth-placed Wrexham and still within distance of making a spirited run at the play-offs in the second half of the season, the focus is very much on consolidation.
In order to do that, Ramsay needs to find as many players he can trust to go out and perform as he can, and what better place to find one via the transfer market than by swooping for one of his former players.
Rosales was a regular fixture in Ramsay’s Minnesota team, with the versatile left wing-back proving to be a strong attacking outlet for him, however he was only just traded to Austin FC in December 2025.
And on Wednesday afternoon, it was reported that Rosales’ move to West Brom was moving in the right direction, but now it appears as though that’s not the case.
However, according to an X post from Honduras-based journalist Alvaro De La Rocha later on Wednesday (Honduras being Rosales’ place of birth), Rosales’ camp hasn’t received any official communication from Albion over a deal.
It’s suggested that Austin FC don’t have any plans to sell the 25-year-old, and in a separate X post from WAATV Media, they too report that Rosales is purely focused on the project with the MLS side.
Austin FC clue dropped on Rosales transfer status
If a club knows that they’re going to be selling a player, the very last thing they want to do is risk getting them injured before the deal is completed by playing them in a game.
Austin FC took part in a pre-season friendly game with Louisville City on Wednesday, that was contested behind closed doors.
And, in a clear clue that Rosales is going nowhere anytime soon, he was included in the starting XI, showing that he’s still very much stateside and in their immediate thinking.
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