Daniel Matthews
Updated on: October 9, 2024 6:46 am GMT
West Brom’s Disastrous Transfer History: The Five Biggest Flops
West Bromwich Albion fans have seen the club make impressive strides in recent transfer windows, notably this summer with the return of Mikey Johnston and the additions of Torbjoern Heggem, Uros Racic, and Lewis Dobbin. However, the Baggies’ historical transfer dealings have not always been so fruitful. As West Brom aims for a return to the Premier League following a solid start to the Championship season, it’s important to reflect on some of the club’s most significant transfer blunders.
This article explores five of West Brom’s most disappointing acquisitions in recent years, examining what went wrong for each player and how they ultimately failed to make a positive impact at The Hawthorns.
1. Oliver Burke: A Promising Start That Fizzled Out
Oliver Burke is perhaps the most notorious of West Brom’s transfer flops. The Scottish winger turned heads with his breakout performance at Nottingham Forest which earned him a high-profile move to RB Leipzig in 2016. However, after just 12 months in the Bundesliga, he returned to the UK, with the Baggies securing his services for a hefty £15 million.
Burke’s tenure at West Brom was marred by stagnation. Over the 2017/18 season, he failed to score a single goal in the Premier League and made minimal contributions in the following Championship season. His subsequent loans to Celtic and Deportivo Alaves didn’t revive his career either, as he recorded limited appearances and goals. Eventually, Burke was transferred to Sheffield United, having managed only eight goals over four years at West Brom. His poor performance last season at Birmingham City—where he failed to score at all—highlights the club’s miscalculation in investing in him.
2. Brown Ideye: The Record-Breaking Misfit
In the summer of 2014, West Brom made headlines by signing Nigerian striker Brown Ideye for a then-club record fee of £10 million. Despite his successful stints at Dynamo Kyiv, Ideye could not replicate his form in the Premier League.
His year with the Baggies proved disappointing; he netted only four goals in 24 league appearances and wasted several key scoring opportunities, hindering West Brom’s progress in various competitions. After just one season, he was sold to Olympiacos, where his career slightly picked up, but he has since drifted from club to club without finding success. Ideye’s inability to perform in England left fans scratching their heads at what might have been.
3. Kenneth Zohore: A Misguided Signing
West Brom’s decision to sign Kenneth Zohore from Cardiff City for £8 million in 2019 raised eyebrows from the start. Having initially excelled with Cardiff, Zohore’s form had sharply declined when he joined the Baggies, leaving many experts questioning the wisdom of the investment.
In a season where he appeared in 19 matches for West Brom, Zohore only managed to net three goals and struggled further on loan at Millwall the following year, scoring just two more. His lack of productivity on the field coupled with a lack of effort led many to conclude that the purchase was a significant mistake. Currently, at the age of 30, Zohore remains without a club as he continues to search for a revival of his career.
4. Victor Anichebe: Limited Impact
The signing of Victor Anichebe for a fee that could rise to £6 million was ostensibly an attempt to bolster West Brom’s attacking options. However, Anichebe’s time at the club was characterized by underwhelming performance and injuries.
In two seasons with the Baggies, he managed to score only six league goals in 55 appearances. Anichebe failed to leave a mark, and the club ultimately released him on a free transfer, illustrating yet another misfire in their pursuit of offensive talent.
5. Zhang Yuning: A Record Fee with No Returns
Signed in 2017 for £6 million, Chinese striker Zhang Yuning is notable not only for the fee but also for being one of the most baffling signings in West Brom’s history. Throughout his time at the club, Zhang neither played a single minute nor scored any goals. His prior experiences did not translate into success upon moving to the Midlands, prompting loan spells that yielded no positive results.
Zhang returned to China within two years, where he found success as a player, but his time at West Brom remains characterized by missed opportunity and financial loss.
Examining the Patterns of Failure
The struggles of these players point to a troubling pattern in West Brom’s transfer strategies, particularly regarding striker acquisitions. Each player exhibited a potential that never materialized at The Hawthorns, leading to disappointing returns on investment both on and off the pitch. Despite current successes in the squad, these historical missteps serve as stark reminders of how challenging it is to navigate the complexities of the transfer market.
West Brom wants to do well in the Championship and try to move up to a higher league. To make this happen, they need to learn from their past mistakes with player transfers. By looking at what went wrong before, the Baggies can make better choices in the future. This way, they can spend their money wisely and help the club grow both now and later.
