Credit: Imago

James Barker

Tue 2 June 2026 16:30, UK

West Bromwich Albion have confirmed that goalkeeper Max O’Leary has signed a new permanent contract at The Hawthorns.

The 29-year-old joined West Brom on a permanent transfer from Bristol City in last season’s winter transfer window, but his deal only ran until the end of the 2025-26 season.

As such, O’Leary was scheduled to hit the free agent market this summer, but many Albion supporters didn’t want that to happen.

He performed very well between the sticks during the final weeks of last term, playing a massive part in helping keep the Baggies in the Championship.

So, ensuring that he signed a long-term permanent contract was always going to be one of West Brom’s first priorities of the summer window, and that’s exactly what they’ve done.

Max O’Leary inks three-year West Brom contract

West Brom revealed they’d offered O’Leary a new contract upon the publishing of their 2025-26 retained list, with the ball put firmly in the goalkeeper’s court.

It’s been a tense wait for Baggies fans since then, with just Joshua Griffiths as their only other senior shot-stopper after Joe Wildsmith’s release.

However, that wait is now over, as West Brom have announced via their club website on Tuesday that O’Leary has signed a new three-year contract, extending his stay in B71 until 2029.

Reacting to the news on X, many Albion supporters appear delighted with this move, with a recurrent theme of the Irishman being deserving of fresh terms due to his performances down the stretch last season.

Correct decision, warranted an extension from his performances at the back end of the season.

Congrats Max!

— West Brom Xtra (@WestBromXtra) June 2, 2026

Deserves it on the basis of the number of clean sheets at the backend of last season alone.

— Raman Sailopal (@RamanSailopal) June 2, 2026

Great job Albion, thought he steadied himself well into the squad past Feb.

keep them coming.

— TE𓅨 (@TEwba268) June 2, 2026

“Great news. Deal done quick, free so leaved funds for elsewhere, solid at this level,” another said.

Meanwhile, another Baggies fan commented: “Good news solid keeper at this level. People do need to remember he was Bristol’s (City’s) number one for a couple of years. So happy with this.”

Fully deserved for the lad, was great at back end of season 🙌

— Sarah ❤️ (@sarah_WBA_) June 2, 2026

Well and truly deserved! Thought over the last 8 games we barely mentioned the goalkeeper, which to me is a sign of how well he did!

— The Burger Sight baggies 𓅪 (@BurgerSight) June 2, 2026

West Brom were never going to take O’Leary gamble

If there’s one position you don’t mess about with in football, it’s goalkeeper.

Good ones don’t grow on trees, and so when you’ve got one in the building, it’s always wise to keep hold of them for as long as you can.

Are there better goalkeepers at Championship level than O’Leary? Yes. Are there worse? Absolutely.

Sure, West Brom chiefs could’ve banked on their scouting department and taken the chance on waving goodbye to O’Leary and signing a new goalkeeper this summer, and they may have found a better one.

However, they would also have been equally as likely to end up signing a downgrade on him too, so inking O’Leary to a new deal and solidifying that position with a good, safe option for the next three years was a no-brainer.