(Credit: Hasan Karim/Imago)

Onyemachi 'on his way to Aston Villa' as West Brom exit all but done - reaction

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Sports journalist with experience at Football League World and Burton Albion FC; Derby University graduate. FOCUS Transfer coverage and behind-the-scenes insight across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Evan utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, high-speed transfer reporting. He provides the depth behind the deals to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

Published on:

09 Jul 2025, 1:30 pm

West Brom seem destined to lose a promising youngster as Divine Onyemachi nears an exit.

The 17-year-old has struck 20 goals from just 50 appearances in the Baggies' youth ranks, but he now seems set to depart before he even makes his first-team bow in B71.

Onyemachi is understood to be set to join Lecce, with the Italian side expected to complete a deal for the attacker in the coming weeks.

His imminent departure will undoubtedly serve as a blow to Ryan Mason and Co., as they want to keep their best young talents at the club for the future.

Onyechmachi's exit will be a blow to Mason. (Credit: Imago)

West Brom fans react to Onyemachi exit news

Mason will be keen to bring in plenty of fresh faces ahead of the upcoming Championship campaign, but the former Spurs academy coach wouldn't have counted on some of the club's brightest young talents heading elsewhere.

It seems as though Onyemachi will follow in the footsteps of Reyes Cleary, who recently left West Brom to sign a permanent deal with Hartlepool United of the National League.

News of the youngster's departure will have come as a major blow at The Hawthorns, where there had previously been plenty of optimism following the club's early dealings in the transfer market.

The signings of Nat Phillips and Aune Heggebo have both been well-received, and there is expected to be plenty more new faces coming through the door ahead of the season opener against Blackburn on 9 August.

However, the update on Onyemachi has provided frustration for the fans, and there are concerns that the attacker could end up down the road at Aston Villa in the near future.

On his way to Villa via Lecce then 🤦‍♂️ another one we won’t get a payment for 🙄
— Jimi Nicholls 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@JimiNicholls) July 8, 2025

We appear to have a fantastic academy but sadly struggle to keep hold of the players, what I will say is that not many who leave like this achieve much, the agents just want the money but not thinking of their careers.
— Chris Durham 𓅪 (@Duzc1972) July 8, 2025

Next year: signs for the Villa for £1M
— 22Baggie99 (@22Baggie99) July 9, 2025

We really need to start showing we are serious about developing talent and giving them a proper chance to reduce the amount this happens.
— Elliott Hughes 𓅪 (@Elliottina86) July 8, 2025

That’s a shame
— Luke Stokes (@lukestokes84) July 8, 2025

Can understand the move to be fair. The view in the academy at the moment will be that they will be sent out on loan and then sold with little pathway to the first team. Part of the reasons for this are PSR, part are a lack of opportunities historically.
— Raman Sailopal (@RamanSailopal) July 9, 2025

will be a humungous miss. has real potential. https://t.co/On6SV03yOT
— 𓅪 (@wbaa_j) July 8, 2025

Onyemachi could follow well-trodden path to Villa

Cleary and Onyemachi both turned down the offer of a new contract to stay at The Hawthorns, and concerns that the latter could end up at Villa are perfectly understandable.

It has become a well-trodden path for ex-Baggies youngsters to end up in B6, with Louie Barry perhaps the most high-profile starlet to have been part of the academy ranks of both clubs in recent years.

Onyemachi may be a long way off having an impact at first-team level at this moment in time, but it is the sort of departure that could be a major loss for West Brom over the next few years.

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Divine Onyemachi