Scout Report
Finishing & Movement
Maja has not had the best of campaigns in a Baggies shirt, but then again not many have. When at this best, Maja is known for his eye for goal, and movement in the penalty area. If the chances are created, he can still be a big threat in the Championship.
Technical Profile
A natural poacher with sharp instincts, Maja’s role at West Brom has traditionally been to occupy the area and be “the fox in the box”.
Tactical Role
Operating largely as a primary striker, Maja’s role is not only to score goals but to try and stretch opposition defences and create space for other forwards and midfield runs from deep.
Josh Maja: End of the road at West Brom?
Josh Maja’s time at West Brom has been decidedly mixed. After an injury-ravaged first campaign, he made a fantastic start to the 2024-25 season before another untimely setback stemmed his progress. Since then, Maja has never really discovered the consistency at The Hawthorns, and there is a general feeling of untapped potential surrounding his time with the Baggies. With his contract coming to an end in the summer, the 27-year-old is at a bit of a crossroads with his Albion career and it remains to be seen if he will be retained. Right now, West Brom’s main focus is on securing survival in the second tier, and any decisions on out-of-contract players will be shelved until it is clear what division Albion are playing in next season. But, it does beg the question – is this the end of the road for Maja at West Brom?
J. Maja in Profile: Contract Status and Market Value
Maja has long been considered one of the most natural finishers in the Championship, but a combination of injury struggles and inconsistent team form has hampered his output this term. Despite his struggles, according to Transfermarkt he still retains a market value of around £5.2million.
Unfortunately, that market value is likely to count for nothing. Signed on a three-year deal back in the summer of 2023, Maja is now entering the final months of his current deal. With his contract set to expire in the summer of 2026, the Baggies could lose Maja on a free transfer in a few months’ time.
It feels inevitable that much of the Baggies’ planning in the summer will boil down to what league they are in. With West Brom fighting to avoid relegation to the third tier, any decisions on a contract offer for Maja may depend on what league they find themselves in.
On his day, Maja is a big asset to West Brom. But like many in a Baggies shirt, those days have been few and far between. With Maja it might end up being a case of what might have been, had injuries and inconsistent form not blighted the progress he showed when he first signed.
Should West Bromwich Albion offer Josh Maja a new contract regardless of which league they are in?
West Brom managerial uncertainty is playing a factor in Maja future
Maja’s uncertainty at West Brom is sort of reflected across the board at the club right now. Some damaging managerial appointments have left Albion fighting to preserve their Championship status this season. Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay both had hugely disappointing spells in charge, and now the onus is on James Morrison to steer the club to safety. It could be that Morrison gets the nod to take on the job full time if he manages to succeed in his task, but other candidates are sure to be on the shortlist too. But, that lack of clarity means that Maja and other Baggies players out of contract in the summer may be facing a bit of a wait to get their futures resolved.
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- Isaac Price: Michael O’Neill may have Northern Ireland plan ahead of Blackburn vs West Brom
- Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba: Daryl Dike sends message to West Brom loanee in England action
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- Jayson Molumby can be James Morrison’s West Brom midfield general after Ireland heartbreak
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- Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba to fire West Brom to safety after training with England senior team
- West Brom make shrewd Watford ticket offer that Shilen Patel should extend to Ipswich Town
- West Brom: Isaac Price is biggest beneficiary of James Morrison formation change
