Credit: Breaking Media/Manh Tung

James Barker

Fri 8 May 2026 16:00, UK

West Bromwich Albion made 13 total new signings over the course of the 2025-26 season.

This past campaign will live long in the memory of West Brom fans, in a term that had just about everything.

Three different managers, James Morrison further solidifying his legend status at The Hawthorns, a points deduction, late winners, heartbreak, winning and winless runs; it’s time for every Baggies fan to take a long lie down.

It’s also been a year that’s seen a host of new faces arrive in B71, with some making a huge impact and others sure to be confined to being Albion pub quiz answers.

West Brom News takes a look back at all 13 of the Baggies’ transfer signings from the 2025-26 season and grades them out of 10, and we’ll go by defence, midfield and attack.

George Campbell the best of West Brom’s defensive signings

Starting in defence, this is the department where West Brom really put the majority of their player recruitment focus this past season, with nine players signed here.

Working our way from back to front, goalkeeper Max O’Leary signed from Bristol City in January on a short-term deal until the end of the season, meaning he’s scheduled to hit the free agent market this summer.

After a shaky opening few games for Albion, the 29-year-old was superb during the run-in, keeping seven clean sheets from his 16 Championship appearances.

Without him, West Brom would likely be preparing for a season in League One now, and so for me, this signing gets a nine out of 10, with only the fact he did make a handful of mistakes and his contract situation preventing it from being a 10.

Danny Imray is going to receive an eight, as the Crystal Palace loanee didn’t kick into gear as fast as O’Leary did, but once he did, the right-back enjoyed an excellent end to the term and looks sure to be signed permanently.

Charlie Taylor is next, and he gets a five, as the experienced defender was versatile playing left-back and in central defence, but I thought his pedigree and veteran presence would see him make far greater an impact than the squad role he played.

Samuel Iling-Junior gets a three from me, as the Aston Villa loanee didn’t work out at The Hawthorns at all, and was recalled to Villa Park in the winter window having scored once in 24 appearances for Albion.

Another defensive signing who really disappointed was Alfie Gilchrist, making just 15 total appearances in all competitions after signing from Chelsea, despite having enjoyed a good season with Sheffield United in 2024-25. Three.

Chris Mepham signed from West Brom in a £1million move last summer, but endured a frustrating campaign having only played twice between February and May through injury, but looked solid enough when on the pitch. Six.

Krystian Bielik signed from Birmingham City, but like Mepham also suffered with injury, and ended up making just 19 appearances, but again, did play relatively well when fit. Five.

George Campbell is my Player of the Season for West Brom in 2025-26, signing in a reported bargain deal of around £1m.

He more than held his own playing out of position at right-back for a considerable part of the opening half of the season, and ended the season brilliantly playing in central defence, as well as scoring some big goals in the run-in. 10.

Finally for the defence, we’ve got Nat Phillips. The centre-back joined from Liverpool last summer, and played 41 times for Albion in 2025-26, with all 40 of his Championship outings being starts.

The 29-year-old was consistently good, provided a big set-piece threat, and once again proved himself to be a quality player at this level. Nine.

West Brom’s midfield signings largely disappoint

Now moving into midfield, and West Brom made three signings in this department in 2025-26.

Starting with Hindolo Mustapha, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder joined on loan from Crystal Palace in February for the remainder of the season, but made almost no impact over the final months of term.

All he has to show from his Baggies loan spell was 45 minutes against Norwich in the FA Cup, and one lone minute of Championship action as a stoppage time substitute against Southampton. It’s harsh, but this can only be a one out of 10.

Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba also joined on loan late in the winter window, and did make more of an impression than Mustapha with 11 total appearances for the Baggies.

However, he was only able to contribute with one assist from his 10 league outings, and whilst clearly being a high-potential player, now wasn’t the right time for him to star at The Hawthorns. Three.

Lastly in midfield, we’ve got Toby Collyer. The defensive midfielder joined on loan from Manchester United in the summer window, and looked to be a really exciting acquisition.

Unfortunately, a calf injury he sustained against Birmingham in November ended his Albion spell, with United recalling him on New Year’s Day before eventually joining Hull on loan for the rest of the season.

Despite his untimely injury, he wasn’t setting the world alight at The Hawthorns during his first few months, and hasn’t enjoyed much more success with Hull either. Three.

Aune Heggebo endures mixed debut season for West Brom

Finally, we conclude with West Brom’s lone striker signing from the 2025-26 campaign: Aune Heggebo.

The Norwegian joined from Brann for a reported fee of £4.75m last July, and having scored a healthy amount of goals in Norway, it was hoped he would hit the ground running at The Hawthorns.

However, whilst not a bad debut season by any means, his nine league goals is perhaps not the return many had hoped from him, and his inconsistent performances has seen him be the cause for significant frustration levels among fans.

There’s clearly a player there, and he should hopefully improve along with West Brom as a team in general next season, but for now, given his sizeable transfer fee coupled with a mediocre campaign, I’m giving this signing a five.