🎧 What to expect from Albion this seasonpublished at 14:58 BST 17 July
14:58 BST 17 July
West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison is still building his squad before his first full campaign as a senior head coach, so what more does he need to be a success and what are the expectations for the club this season?
BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon and Chris Hall from the Albion Analysis podcast dive in as they look ahead to the 2026-27 season for the Baggies.
His time at the club was marred by numerous injuries, which is why he was reduced to just 68 appearances after signing for around £7m from Orlando City in January 2022.
It was then-boss Val Ismael who pushed for the signing after working with him during a loan spell at Barnsley.
He scored nine goals in 22 appearances for the South Yorkshire side but, as we know, he was unable to replicate that form at Albion.
His first big injury was a hamstring one on his first start for the club at Peterborough.
He did get fit for the start of the 2022-23 campaign and had scored seven goals in 25 appearances until he suffered that first torn Achilles injury.
That kept him out for nine months but he scored on his return in the FA Cup third round against Aldershot in January 2024.
Just a month later against Ipswich it was heart-breaking to see when he was being carried off on a golf cart by the medical team and Dike would open up later on about the mental struggle during his latest spell on the sidelines that would keep him out for a full year.
He didn't start the final game of the 2024-25 season when then-interim boss James Morrison showed faith in him by starting him against Luton and he scored in a 5-3 victory.
Unfortunately a thigh injury then occurred in the following pre-season, which kept him out again.
He would return in October, but he was given limited minutes by Ryan Mason and then Eric Ramsay. So once again, step forward Morrison.
Dike's minutes increased and that faith paid off when the 26-year-old scored at Preston in April. And it was one of the moments of the season.
He scored in the next match - a win over Watford at The Hawthorns - and, pre-points deduction, it was actually the result that made the Baggies safe from relegation on that night.
But it was to be his last goal. Eleven in total over the four and a half years.
I did get a chance to speak to him, very briefly, after the final game of the season against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
I just wished him well and I said farewell in case he was to be released and that was the case - it was announced by the club a few weeks later.
It is a shame, genuinely, because he was a guy who despite the mental struggles of all the injuries, public facing, he kept a smile on his face.
He was a very bright and bubbly lad and I think for someone who played so little because of those injuries, I don't think there's been a player that's had so many well wishes and so many positive thoughts.
But it was a case of what could have been for Daryl Dike and with Albion understood to be planning for life without Josh Maja and Karlan Grant as well, their contracts expiring this summer, it is set to be a virtually new forward line for the new season under now-permanent boss Morrison.
Image source, Shutterstock
Image caption,
Daryl Dike's time at West Bromwich Albion was severely affected by injury
St Mirren sign Sule on permanent deal from West Brompublished at 13:23 BST 14 July
13:23 BST 14 July
Image source, Getty Images
St Mirren have bought former Celtic trainee Eseosa Sule from West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee.
The Glasgow-born 20-year-old forward, who also spent a short time on loan to Motherwell, has signed a three-year contract with the Scottish Premiership club.
St Mirren manager Craig McLeish told his club website: "We had been speaking West Brom about a loan initially, but when the chance came to do a permanent deal, we were really excited about it because the more permanent deals that we can do and develop our squad for the future, the better.
"Eseosa came up on loan to Motherwell last year and was unfortunate that he picked up an injury and had to head back down the road without really featuring much.
"But he's one that we're excited about because it gives us the bit that we're looking for where he can stretch defences. He gives us a real threat and speed in behind.
"He's one that we hope can contribute from day one, but he's also one that is for us future planning as well with the age he's at."
Having started as a teenager with Celtic, Sule signed a professional contract with West Brom in May 2023 and made his first-team debut as a substitute for the Championship side the following August.
Joining Motherwell on loan last season, he returned south after just one start and two substitute appearances following injury and would go on to make just one more game as a sub for West Brom in April but scored 19 goals in 54 games for their under-21s.
Eseosa added: "This was always on my mind to come to a team and be number nine at a club. That's amazing to me, so it was a no-brainer.
"I feel like this is the perfect place for my career.
"I see myself bringing athleticism, pace, goals and energy. Also, I'm a winner, so I want to win games.
"Even though I had just a small taste of it before, I feel like it's a league where I can really do well."
TV schedule announced for start of EFL seasonpublished at 16:07 BST 2 July
16:07 BST 2 July
Image source, Getty Images
The TV schedule for the opening two months of the English Football League's 2026-27 season have been announced and with that, there are a few games getting a headline slot.
Here are the new dates to jot into your calendars across the EFL in August and September:
Thursday, 20 August - Sheffield Wednesday v Bradford City (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 23 August - West Bromwich Albion v Burnley (12:00 BST)
Friday, 28 August - Wrexham v Birmingham City (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 6 September - Birmingham City v Wolves (12:00 BST)
Monday, 7 September - Bromley v AFC Wimbledon (20:00 BST)
Thursday, 10 September - Stevenage v Luton Town (20:00 BST)
Friday, 11 September - West Ham United v Wrexham (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 13 September - Sheffield United v Wolves (12:00 BST)
Thursday, 17 September - AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons (20:00 BST)
Friday, 18 September - Bristol City v Watford (20:00 BST)
Sunday, 20 September - Wolves v West Bromwich Albion (12:00 BST)
The above matches are the single-game choices whose dates have been moved for TV coverage - there are also a number of Saturday lunchtime, evening and multi-game midweek matches also being televised. The full list is available here., external
The BBC Sport website will have live text commentaries of all the above fixtures and you can also tune in to games via your local BBC Radio station.
Gossip: Baggies' Higgins to join Wiganpublished at 10:29 BST 2 July
10:29 BST 2 July
West Bromwich Albion winger Akeel Higgins is set to join Wigan Athletic after the Birmingham-born 20-year-old spent his first full season in senior football on loan to Exeter City last season. (Alan Nixon via Patreon - requires subscription), external
However, off the pitch concerns were mounting for new owners Bilkul.
The club had gone through the campaign with the oldest squad in the Championship (with an average age of nearly 28 years old).
The club knew they had a Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) problem they needed to get out from under, but they also had an ageing squad with very few saleable assets.
It was a problem they'd inherited due to the mismanagement of the Guochuan Lai regime.
The club had signed 13 players permanently in the final two years under Lai, following relegation from the Premier League in 2020-21 - just two were aged under 25.
Furthermore, the club released Sam Johnstone, Ken Zohore, Kieran Gibbs, Romaine Sawyers and Kamil Grosicki on frees over the same two seasons.
Those six players had cost Albion just shy of £30m in transfer fees, yet the club recouped not a penny on any of them.
The transfer policy was fundamentally flawed.
The Throstles were buying players, but the majority were joining at the height of their value (or well past their best) and deteriorating into largely valueless assets while at Albion.
It was little surprise that, by the time Bilkul took the helm in early 2024, the club were projecting a PSR breach in the tens of millions.
Bilkul clearly identified the problems of the previous ownership and set about developing a very different approach to the transfer market.
In the past two seasons, Albion have only signed one outfield player aged over 27 (Nat Phillips) and not a single one over 30.
Ten of 14 permanent signings have been aged under 25, while Albion have moved on an impressive eight players aged over 30.
The result has been remarkable; Albion have gone from having the oldest squad in the league to having one of the top 10 youngest in the Championship.
It has also led to the club being able to finally generate real profit on players.
In the past two seasons players have been sold for fees totalling around £25m more than we paid for them.
And, despite those PSR challenges now being behind Albion, it doesn't seem that this summer will see any major change in approach.
Shilen Patel outlined his transfer policy to fans in an open letter on Friday, stating that the club doesn't need to throw around big transfer fees to find value in the market.
Value is exactly what Albion are looking for, and that is evident from their first three signings of the window.
A trio of young, upcoming outfield prospects have been snapped up for modest fees in the shape of Barney Stewart (20), Jimmy-Jay Morgan (22) and Carter Pinnington (19).
Patel says that's not the end of the signings, but also says there won't be a departure from the plan either.
I expect that to mean that future signings will probably have a little more experience than those already signed on, but will still be young enough to potentially be developed into profit-making signings.
Links to players such as Danny Imray and Cameron Archer probably reflect that, as both have shown they are more than capable at the level, but at 22 and 24 respectively, have room to grow and increase in value.
Buy young, develop them, sell high, and repeat seems to be the Bilkul model.
On paper, it looks like a winning strategy; let's hope this season, it translates onto the grass.
Gill staying at West Brom as Strachan joinspublished at 14:15 BST 23 June
14:15 BST 23 June
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Matt Gill arrived at Albion in March and helped the club pull clear of relegation trouble in the Championship last season
West Bromwich Albion have confirmed Matt Gill will be staying as assistant head coach to boss James Morrison and added Celtic first-team coach Gavin Strachan and former Middlesbrough defender Tony McMahon to the coaching staff.
Gill joined up with the Baggies for the last 11 fixtures of 2025-26, as they went on to secure their Championship survival off the back of a 10-game unbeaten run.
Strachan, 47, has been with the Scottish champions since 2020 after previous assistant manager roles in the EFL with Doncaster and Peterborough.
McMahon, 40, has had previous coaching experience at Scunthorpe United and York City.
Albion also confirmed Boaz Myhill will continue as goalkeeper coach, Leigh Downing will return to his senior role with the Baggies' under-21 team while analyst Damia Abella is leaving after three years.
On Gill's retention, Morrison said it was "great" to have him stay on adding "he's a great coach, I enjoyed working with him last year, the players enjoyed working with him and his efforts were important in us getting over the line".
On the new arrivals, he said: "I'm also delighted to add Gavin Strachan to the group. Having a new pair of eyes from somebody with Gavin's experience will help us massively
"He has worked alongside some top managers, like Martin O'Neill, Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers, and will no doubt bring fresh ideas with him.
"I know Tony well from our time together at Middlesbrough. He knows me better than anyone in football. He's somebody I trust and whose opinion I've always valued."
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Gavin Strachan has been with Celtic for the past four years
Gossip: Stoke close in on Albion goalkeeper Griffithspublished at 11:48 BST 22 June
11:48 BST 22 June
Stoke City are trying to finalise a deal for West Bromwich Albion's English goalkeeper Josh Griffiths, 24, in a move that would allow the Baggies' England youth international Tommy Simkin, 21, to head back out on loan. (Stoke Sentinel), external
Albion sign young Liverpool defender Pinningtonpublished at 11:01 BST 18 June
11:01 BST 18 June
Image source, Getty Images
West Bromwich Albion have signed defender Carter Pinnington on a three-year deal.
The 19-year-old joins from Liverpool, where he has risen through the youth ranks to become a regular part of their under-21s team but has yet to make his senior debut.
He will join the Baggies' under-21 set-up for the immediate future.
"I'm extremely grateful to be joining Albion," Pinnington said in a club statement.
"I had offers from other clubs, but from the very first conversations I had here, it was clear to me that this was the right place for the next stage of my career and an opportunity I couldn't turn down."
The teenager is a former England Under-18 international.
