West Brom: Alfie Gilchrist’s contract examined after £1.2m move from Chelsea
West Bromwich Albion haven’t seen the best of Alfie Gilchrist since signing him from Chelsea.
The Baggies appeared to have landed a coup when they brought the full-back in from the eventual FIFA Club World Cup champions.
The 22-year-old was coming off the back of an excellent campaign with Sheffield United and looked to be a top signing for the Black Country outfit.
Things haven’t worked out that way, and the Englishman has only proven to be a bit-part player in recent weeks and months.
West Brom News has now assessed Gilchrist’s move to B71 from Chelsea and what we know about his current deal.
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What is Alfie Gilchrist’s West Brom contract situation?
It appears that the plan for the defender was to come in as a backup option for Ryan Mason at the time.
Things didn’t work out for the head coach, nor has the summer signing spell at The Hawthorns, with minutes at a premium this season.
| Stat (Championship 25/26) | Alfie Gilchrist |
| Appearances | 12 |
| Starts | 7 |
| Minutes played | 573 |
| Goal involvements | 0 |
| Tackles | 10 |
That has seen the former Chelsea youngster watch from the sidelines on most weeks as a perennial unused substitute, particularly under James Morrison.
There will be hope he can turn things around in B71, as his contract does not expire until the summer of 2030, after he signs a four-year deal this summer.
His performances when given an opportunity haven’t helped matters, as his struggles have been clear for all to see.
He is reportedly paid a weekly wage of £20,000, equating to a yearly salary in the region of £1million per year.
Gilchrist hasn’t been worth that for West Brom as his permanent switch from Stamford Bridge comes under scrutiny.
Has Gilchrist’s £1.2m move been worth it for West Brom?
To sign a full-back after just one full season of senior football was always going to be a risk, and he has played like that at times.
The right-back may have been a useful asset for Sheffield United, but that hasn’t transpired onto the pitch in the Black Country.
He hasn’t proven to be worth the £1.2m the Baggies paid at this stage, but still has plenty of time to do exactly that.
With many years remaining on his deal at The Hawthorns, there will be hope to see better performances from Gilchrist next season and beyond.
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