West Brom massively hit the jackpot with £8.25m star and these 5 others

West Bromwich Albion has made some amazing acquisitions over the years to help them compete for a spot in the Premier League or to finish near the top of the Championship.

The Baggies have survived 12 Premier League seasons over that span, including an eight-year stint from 2010 to 2018, and have been promoted from the second division back to the top level three times.

Football League World examines West Brom’s top six acquisitions over the past 20 years. The Hawthorns have been home to numerous gifted football players who have proven their abilities to keep Albion among the top teams in both English football and the world.

Peter Odemwingie

Former Nigerian international Odemwingie bounced around Europe during the early stages of his career, featuring for the likes of La Louvière, Lille and Lokomotiv Moscow before settling with the Baggies ahead of the 2010/11 campaign.

With a very clinical edge to score the game-winning goal in an opening-day triumph over Sunderland at The Hawthorns, Odemwingie quickly became a favourite among the Albion fans.

The now 43-year-old, who was a natural number nine and knew where the goal was, broke the club record for most goals in a Premier League season with 15 goals and nine assists from 32 league games in his debut season. However, two seasons later, loanee Romelu Lukaku would surpass him with 17 goals.

Odemwingie would go on to become the Baggies’ all-time top flight goalscorer with 30 goals in two more terms, and despite some contentious moments regarding leaving the team, he more than justified the £2.5 million.

Gareth McAuley

Few Albion supporters could have predicted the influence Gareth McAuley would have at the centre of the backline when he arrived to The Hawthorns on a free transfer from Ipswich Town at the age of 31.

Before making his first move to the Premier League, the Northern Irish player played a lot in the EFL. Over the course of six years, he made over 200 appearances and played a major role in Albion’s incredible run in the top flight, solidifying his place as a first-team mainstay in the Black Country.

Especially under Tony Pulis, McAuley’s dependable and unwavering character at the back made him a serious threat from set pieces. In fact, he became Albion’s second-highest scorer in the 2016–17 campaign.

When called upon, McAuley, an old-fashioned central defender who would put his head or foot anywhere to get the ball, provided the goods, and the club’s tactics proved to be brilliant.

Kevin Phillips

Phillips will always be a hero whenever he turns up at The Hawthorns, with a memorable two-year spell in blue and white after joining from local rivals Aston Villa in 2006.

After joining at the age of 32, Phillips scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in 36 appearances in the second division during his debut season. The following season, he scored 22 goals, including three hat-tricks, to help Albion win the Championship and return to the Premier League under Tony Mowbray.

Phillips declined Albion’s offer of a new one-year contract extension as a result, preferring to join Birmingham City.

The Baggies supporters still revere the star-studded striker for his performances, as he recorded 46 goals and 16 assists in 81 games in all competitions.

Chris Brunt

Brunt, who scored the crucial goal in Albion’s 2007–08 Championship promotion drive to secure a return to the Premier League, was a vital member of the team for over ten years and is now considered a modern-day icon in the West Midlands.

The Northern Ireland international, who is remembered with affection for his amazing mobility and dead-ball skills, became one of the top assist-makers in the top division in the 2010s, performing admirably wherever he was needed.

Brunt, who will always be remembered for his unwavering devotion and enthusiasm while playing for the blue and white stripes, finished 421 appearances at Albion with 49 goals and 84 assists before leaving for Bristol City in 2020.

Zoltan Gera

With his powerful performances on the flanks, the former Hungarian international Gera was another fan favourite. He and Phillips helped the Baggies win the 2008 Championship trophy and return to the Premier League.

Gera enjoyed a four-year career with 21 goals and 20 assists before to joining Fulham in 2008. He possessed a sharp eye for a game-winning pass and a clinical edge in front of goal.

Gera returned to The Hawthorns in 2011 after winning a Europa League runners-up medal with the Cottagers. He scored an incredible half-volley goal against Liverpool on the first day of the 3-0 triumph, but injury severely curtailed his season.

Gera was an excellent addition to assist Albion achieve long-term success in the Premier League because of his innate flair with the ball and ability to produce or score a goal out of the blue.

Matheus Pereira

The Brazilian flair of Matheus Pereira, who dominated the Championship during an initial loan stint under Slaven Bilic, rounds off the list of jackpot signings.

With eight goals and twenty assists in his first season, the winger proved to be one of the most gifted players the second division has ever seen.

While his ability to score from dead ball situations proved to be a nuisance for any Championship defender, his explosiveness in the final third produced a variety of world-class finishes and sublime skills.

After making a permanent move for £8.25 million, the 28-year-old proceeded to excel in the Premier League, scoring 11 goals and dishing out six assists, including an iconic brace against Wolves, the local rivals, at Molineux.

Many West Brom fans long for the playmaker’s return to propel them back among England’s top teams after he returned to his native Brazil after being demoted back to the second division.

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