The 2023–24 season was the 146th season in the history of West Bromwich Albion and their third consecutive season in the Championship. The club participated in the Championship, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.
On 15 February 2024, the club announced that Bilkul Football WBA (led by Shilen Patel and his father Kiran C. Patel) had reached an agreement to acquire an 87.8% shareholding in West Bromwich Group Limited. The takeover was completed on 28 February.
Squad
No. Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (Age) Signed from Date signed Fee Contract end Goalkeepers 24 Alex Palmer GK Kidderminster Academy 1 July 2017 30 June 2026 33 Josh Griffiths GK Hereford Academy 1 July 2020 30 June 2025 Defenders 2 Darnell Furlong RB Luton Queens Park Rangers 23 July 2019 £1,700,000 30 June 2025 3 Conor Townsend LB Hessle Scunthorpe United 28 July 2018 £840,000 30 June 2025 4 Cédric Kipré CB Paris Wigan Athletic 4 September 2020 £1,100,000 30 June 2024 5 Kyle Bartley CB Stockport Swansea City 16 July 2018 Undisclosed 30 June 2024 6 Semi Ajayi CB Crayford Rotherham United 20 July 2019 £1,650,000 30 June 2025 15 Erik Pieters CB Tiel Free agent 13 September 2022 30 June 2024 16 Martin Kelly RB Whiston Crystal Palace 1 September 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2024 26 Pipa RB Esparreguera Ludogorets Razgrad 1 September 2023 Loan 31 May 2024 Midfielders 8 Jayson Molumby CM Cappoquin Brighton & Hove Albion 1 July 2022 £1,000,000 30 June 2025 14 Nathaniel Chalobah DM Freetown Fulham 31 January 2023 Undisclosed 30 June 2024 19 John Swift CM Portsmouth Reading 1 July 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2025 20 Adam Reach LM Chester-le-Street Sheffield Wednesday 2 August 2021 Free Transfer 30 June 2024 22 Yann M'Vila CM Amiens Olympiacos 19 February 2024 Free Transfer 30 June 2024 27 Alex Mowatt CM Doncaster Barnsley 2 July 2021 Free Transfer 30 June 2024 31 Tom Fellows RM Birmingham Academy 1 July 2021 30 June 2027 35 Okay Yokuşlu DM Konak Celta Vigo 18 July 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2025 37 Harry Whitwell CM Oxford Academy 17 November 2023 Trainee 30 June 2025 47 Fenton Heard AM Birmingham Academy 7 July 2023 Trainee 30 June 2024 Forwards 7 Jed Wallace RW Reading Millwall 1 July 2022 Free Transfer 30 June 2026 9 Josh Maja CF Lewisham Bordeaux 1 August 2023 Free Transfer 30 June 2026 10 Matt Phillips RW Aylesbury Queens Park Rangers 6 July 2016 £6,500,000 30 June 2024 11 Grady Diangana LW Lubumbashi West Ham United 4 September 2020 £13,500,000 30 June 2025 12 Daryl Dike CF Edmond Orlando City 1 January 2022 £8,630,000 30 June 2026 17 Andreas Weimann CF Vienna Bristol City 15 January 2024 Loan 31 May 2024 21 Brandon Thomas-Asante CF Milton Keynes Salford City 31 August 2022 £345,000 30 June 2025 23 Mikey Johnston LW Glasgow Celtic 1 February 2024 Loan 31 May 2024 32 Jovan Malcolm CF Birmingham Academy 1 July 2021 Trainee 30 June 2024 Out on Loan 18 Karlan Grant CF Thamesmead Huddersfield Town 15 October 2020 £16,500,000 30 June 2026 36 Caleb Taylor CB Burnley Academy 6 July 2021 Trainee 30 June 2025
Statistics
!colspan=13|Players out on loan
!colspan=13|Players who left the club during the season
Transfers In DatePosPlayerTransferred fromFeeRef 1 August 2023 CF Josh Maja Bordeaux Free Transfer 24 August 2023 CF Ruben Shakpoke Aston Villa Free Transfer 19 February 2024 CM Yann M'Vila Olympiacos Free Transfer
Out DatePosPlayerTransferred toFeeRef 23 June 2023 CB Dara O'Shea Burnley Undisclosed 30 June 2023 CB Kean Bryan Free agent Released 30 June 2023 AM Quévin Castro York City Released 30 June 2023 GK Beau Hudd Free agent Released 30 June 2023 CF Tobias Hurlock Free agent Released 30 June 2023 DM Jake Livermore Watford Released 30 June 2023 CF Ramello Mitchell Free agent Released 30 June 2023 CB Cianole Nguepissi Free agent Released 30 June 2023 AM Samuel Okoka Free agent Released 30 June 2023 RW Archie Oliver Colchester United Released 30 June 2023 CB Femi Olofinjana Birmingham City Released 30 June 2023 CM Samuel Oluwatobi Free agent Released 30 June 2023 AM Rico Richards Aston Villa Released 30 June 2023 AM Tom Rogic Free agent Released 30 June 2023 CM Jesse Wangusi Free agent Released 8 August 2023 GK David Button Reading Mutual Consent 15 January 2024 RB Taylor Gardner-Hickman Bristol City Undisclosed 1 February 2024 SS Rayhaan Tulloch Free agent Mutual Consent
Loaned in DatePosPlayerLoaned fromUntilRef 25 July 2023 AM Jeremy Sarmiento Brighton & Hove Albion 1 January 2024 1 September 2023 RB Pipa Ludogorets Razgrad End of Season 15 January 2024 CF Andreas Weimann Bristol City End of Season 26 January 2024 CF Callum Marshall West Ham United 9 April 2024 1 February 2024 LW Mikey Johnston Celtic End of Season
Loaned out DatePosPlayerLoaned toUntilRef 15 July 2023 CF Karlan Grant Cardiff City End of Season 20 July 2023 LB Zac Ashworth Bolton Wanderers End of Season 11 August 2023 CF Modou Faal Doncaster Rovers 13 January 2024 14 August 2023 GK Bradley Foster Rushall Olympic 11 September 2023 22 August 2023 RB Taylor Gardner-Hickman Bristol City 15 January 2024 28 August 2023 CM Jamie Andrews Grimsby Town End of season 1 September 2023 RB Ethan Ingram Salford City End of season 1 September 2023 CF Jovan Malcolm Cheltenham Town 2 January 2024 1 September 2023 CF Rayhaan Tulloch Bradford City 1 February 2024 4 October 2023 GK Bradley Foster Alvechurch 28 January 2024 11 November 2023 CF Layton Love Brackley Town 2 January 2024 20 December 2023 RB Reece Hall Hereford 16 January 2024 20 December 2023 CM Matt Richards Stourbridge 16 January 2024 15 January 2024 CF Modou Faal Walsall End of Season 26 January 2024 CB Aaron Harper-Bailey Kidderminster Harriers 24 February 2024 1 February 2024 CB Caleb Taylor Bolton Wanderers End of Season
Pre-season and friendlies On 26 May, WBA announced their first two pre-season friendlies, against Salford City and Burton Albion. A third and fourth friendly was later added, against Cheltenham Town and Bolton Wanderers. A five-day training camp at the St George's Park National Football Centre and a behind-closed-doors friendly against Shrewsbury Town was later confirmed. The club announced a sixth friendly, against Forest Green Rovers.
Competitions Summary
August Albion's opening game was a trip to Ewood Park, against Blackburn Rovers. However, they were caught out by two goals in quick succession by Harry Leonard and Dilan Markanday. Matt Phillips pulled one back in the second half, but ultimately Albion left Lancashire empty handed. Next up was Stoke away in the EFL Cup, with the hosts winning 2–1. Brandon Thomas-Asante was on target for the visitors in that one, equalising either side of Josh Griffiths own goal and Andre Vidigal's quick fire strike. Swansea City were the first to visit the Hawthorns for the season, and Albion managed to record their first win. Semi Ajayi gave the Baggies an early lead following a long throw, before Swans keeper Carl Rushworth put the ball in his own net to double the lead. Conor Townsend then raced into the penalty area to win a spot kick, which was confidently converted by John Swift. Swansea pulled two back through Harry Darling and Ben Cabango, but the hosts held on for a 3–2 win. Albion were on their travels again on the Friday Night, this time to Elland Road. After a goalless first half, Jayson Molumby's shot ricocheted in off Brandon Thomas-Asante's arm, which was not picked up by the officials. Luke Ayling equalised for Leeds in the 72nd minute to split the points in a 1–1 draw. There were six goals in Albion's next match, at home to Middlesbrough finishing 4–2 in Albion's favour. First half strikes from Cedric Kipre and John Swift found the top corner, with Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Latte Lath scoring straight after the second. 2–1 at half-time, it was soon 3–1 when Brandon Thomas-Asante latched onto an error by Lukas Engel. Marcus Forss stuck away a penalty late on and Jeremy Sarmiento scored his first Albion goal to seal the points in stoppage time.
September Albion were at home again against Huddersfield Town at the start of September, but lost thanks to a 96th-minute winner from Jack Rudoni. They had fallen behind after Delano Burgzorg's first half effort with Swift scoring a counter-attacking goal on 52 minutes. After the season's first international break, Albion were held to a 0–0 draw at Ashton Gate. Bristol City dominated the first half before Albion came into the game in the second period, however neither side could find a goal. There were four goals scored in the opening 25 minutes at Vicarage Road the following Wednesday, and none were scored after that period. Watford began the game brightly and Tom Ince put them in front after just 3 minutes. Albion responded in little time thanks to a Swift free-kick and a clever finish from Albion skipper Jed Wallace. Matheus Martins levelled the Hornets in the 23rd minute and that was the end of the scoring, the game finishing 2–2. Alex Palmer then saved a Zian Flemming penalty in the next game at home to Millwall, but despite a strong display Albion were unable to find a winner and the game ended goalless. Albion certainly weren't shy on goals in their following trip to Deepdale, as they simply blew Preston – who were undefeated – away in a 4–0 thrashing. Darnell Furlong opened the scoring with an arrowed strike in the 4th minute, before Alex Mowatt doubled the lead before half time. Matt Phillips and Kyle Bartley got two late goals to cap off a brilliant away day.
October Bottom of the table Sheffield Wednesday came to the Hawthorns and lost by a goal to nil, courtesy of John Swift's fifth goal of the season. Swift had six just three days later, when he put Albion 1–0 up just five minutes into a midlands derby at St. Andrew's. However, Albion would go on to lose that game, with Leandro Bacuna equalising from a controversial penalty, and Dion Sanderson and Gary Gardner sealing a 3–1 victory. Albion came out of the international break with a 0–0 draw at home to newly promoted Plymouth Argyle, with the visitors looking the most threatening. It was back-to-back home games as Queens Park Rangers made the trip to Black Country sitting inside the relegation zone. After a goalless opening 45, the game hinged on a penalty won by the dancing feet of Grady Diangana. Brandon Thomas-Asante stuck it away confidently before Diangana grabbed a second thanks to great work by Nathaniel Chalobah. It was a visit to the CBS on Monday Night Football, and Albion made it back to back 2–0 wins. Grady Diangana pounced on Ben Wilson fumbling the ball as he tried to catch it, and Brandon Thomas-Asante scored in the second half with a ruthless finish in the top corner.
November Albion were back at home against the impressive tigers, Hull City, and made it three wins on the bounce in a 3–1 win. A risky back pass from Jean Michael Seri was intercepted by Jed Wallace, who calmly converted from 12 yards. Hull levelled just before the break, through captain Lewie Coyle with a smart volley. However Albion responded thanks to two fluid team goals finished off by Matt Phillips and Semi Ajayi. However, for the third time in a row, the Baggies would lose going into an international break on the south coast against Southampton. Conor Townsend couldn't keep out Will Smallbone's first half effort, but Albion responded with Kyle Bartley's scramble after Thomas-Asante's header hit the bar in the second half. However, despite a strong second half showing, the Saints struck late via Adam Armstrong. High flying Ipswich Town at home seemed like a tough game to try and respond after the break, but Albion put in an incredible performance to win 2–0. Goals early in each half from Darnell Furlong and Grady Diangana set the Baggies on their way to victory. The final game of November was in South Wales against Erol Bulut's bluebirds. In a scrappy game, the match was decided by a moment of brilliance from Jeremy Sarmiento, curling in a beautiful shot from a tight angle.
December