West Bromwich Albion take on Queens Park Rangers in their opening game of the new Championship season at Loftus Road on Saturday.
The Baggies enjoyed an excellent campaign last season as they finished fifth in the table, but they suffered heartbreak as they were beaten by Southampton in the play-off semi-finals.
West Brom’s new arrivals
It has been a busy summer for Albion as head coach Carlos Corberan looks to rebuild his squad for another promotion push, with seven new players arriving at The Hawthorns so far.
| West Brom – 2024-25 Signings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player Name | Signed From | Loan/Permanent |
| Joe Wildsmith | Derby County | Permanent |
| Torbjorn Heggem | IF Brommapojkarna | Permanent |
| Paddy McNair | San Diego FC | Loan |
| Gianluca Frabotta | Juventus | Permanent |
| Ousmane Diakite | TSV Hartberg | Permanent |
| Lewis Dobbin | Aston Villa | Loan |
| Devante Cole | Barnsley | Permanent |
There have also been a number of departures, including senior players such as Cedric Kipre, Martin Kelly, Erik Pieters, Conor Townsend, Nathaniel Chalobah, Yann M’Vila, Okay Yokuslu, Matt Phillips, Adam Reach, and Brandon Thomas-Asante, so Corberan will be keen to strengthen further before the end of the window.
However, the Baggies’ transfer plans took a huge blow after it was revealed on Saturday that they are currently under an EFL-imposed business plan as they look to avoid a breach of PSR rules, and Corberan admitted it is the “most difficult challenge of my life as a coach”.
It will be a tough game for Albion against a QPR side who were one of the form teams in the division in the second half of last season, and as the countdown to the big kick-off continues, we looked at how Corberan’s side could line up this weekend.
GK: Alex Palmer
Alex Palmer played a crucial role in the Baggies’ promotion push last season as he kept an impressive 19 clean sheets in 48 appearances.
The 27-year-old faces competition for his place from new signing Joe Wildsmith, who helped Derby County to promotion from League One last season, but it seems certain he will start between the sticks on Saturday.
RB: Darnell Furlong
There were fears that Darnell Furlong could leave The Hawthorns this summer after it was claimed in May that Albion were willing to sell him for £2 million, but he has remained at the club, much to the delight of Corberan.
Furlong scored five goals and provided three assists in 49 appearances last season, and he looks set to be a key player for the Baggies once again in the year ahead.
CB: Semi Ajayi
Albion suffered a huge blow last month when Cedric Kipre, who was named as the club’s Player of the Season last term, turned down the offer of a new contract to join Reims, but his departure could open the door for Semi Ajayi.
Ajayi found his game time limited last season, with only 10 of his 27 appearances coming from the start, but Corberan will need him to step up to replace Kipre.
CB: Kyle Bartley
Kyle Bartley was an integral part of the Baggies’ defence last season as they reached the play-offs, and he also contributed at the other end of the pitch as he scored four goals and provided one assist in 41 appearances.
The 33-year-old is now in his seventh season with Albion, and he will likely be a mainstay in the team once again this campaign.
LB: Gianluca Frabotta
The Baggies beat Saturday’s opponents QPR to the signing of Gianluca Frabotta from Juventus and it is possible he could make his debut for the club at Loftus Road this weekend.
Centre-back Torbjorn Heggem has been filling in at left-back during pre-season following Townsend’s departure to Ipswich Town, but Corberan now has a more natural option at his disposal in Frabotta.
CM: Ousmane Diakite
The departures of Chalobah, M’Vila, and Yokuslu have left Corberan incredibly light in central midfield, and his options could be depleted further if Jayson Molumby is sold amid reported interest from Millwall.
New signing Ousmane Diakite, who scored two goals in 34 games for Austrian side TSV Hartberg last season, looks set to be handed his debut on Saturday, and he will be keen to show Baggies supporters what he can do.
CM: Alex Mowatt
It looked as though Alex Mowatt’s days at The Hawthorns were numbered when he was loaned out to Middlesbrough in the 2022-23 season, but he has reignited his Albion career since returning to the club.
Mowatt scored two goals and registered five assists in 48 games last season, and after signing a new two-year deal with the Baggies this summer, he will be a key player for Corberan’s side this campaign.
RW: Jed Wallace
Jed Wallace was named as the Baggies’ captain last summer and with a potentially challenging time ahead for the club, they will need him to lead by example once again this season.
The 30-year-old was one of Albion’s most consistent performers last term, scoring six goals and providing five assists in 45 appearances, and he will be keen to improve on that return this time around.
CM: John Swift
As he enters the final year of his contract at The Hawthorns, there have been reports that the Baggies are open to selling John Swift this summer, but he remains at the club for now.
Swift scored nine goals and registered one assist in 41 games last season, so Corberan will be glad to have him at his disposal, and he will surely be hoping that he does not depart before the end of the window.
LW: Tom Fellows
Tom Fellows enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough campaign last season as he scored five goals and registered four assists in 38 games, and he looks set to shine in the year ahead.
The 21-year-old will be an important player for Albion this term, and Corberan will need him to perform, particularly while Grady Diangana is sidelined with a calf injury.
ST: Josh Maja
Josh Maja endured a frustrating first year at The Hawthorns last season, with two lengthy injury absences keeping him out for much of the campaign.
After Thomas-Asante’s departure to Coventry City, Maja is likely to lead the line for the Baggies this weekend, and Corberan will hope that he can rediscover the form that saw him score 17 goals for Bordeaux in the 2022-23 season.
