The latest West Brom transfer news: The Baggies are set to sign defender Krystian Bielik and midfielder Toby Collyer.
The move for Birmingham City’s club captain Bielik, 27, is expected to be a permanent deal and comes in the wake of news that West Brom defender Torbjorn Heggem is on the verge of joining Bologna.
Meanwhile, Collyer, 21, is set to join on a season-long loan from Manchester United after attracting heavy interest from a host of Championship clubs.
These signings would be the fourth and fifth additions to Ryan Mason’s Baggies squad in this summer’s transfer window, with more expected before the September deadline.
West Brom began their Championship campaign with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn and will travel to the SToK Cae Ras to face Wrexham this weekend.
Bielik Bringing Leadership
The first piece of West Brom transfer news is the capture of Krystian Bielik, who will bring much-desired leadership and experience to Ryan Mason’s squad.
The deal is believed to be worth in excess of £1 million, coming just a year after Bielik signed a contract running until 2027. Portsmouth were also reportedly interested in securing his signature.
The retirement of vice-captain Kyle Bartley had already weakened the team’s leadership group, following the departures over the last two summers of many of the “old guard” who had spent a considerable period of time at the club.
Bielik captained Birmingham to an English record points tally in League One last season, having spent three years with the Blues and making over 100 appearances.
Equally comfortable at centre-back, full-back, or as a defensive midfielder, the versatile player offers Mason a range of options.
The 27-year-old is a former Arsenal player, having joined from Polish side Legia Warszawa for £2 million in the summer of 2014. However, he failed to break into the first team and made just two senior appearances.
Loan moves to Birmingham, Walsall, and Charlton followed before a permanent switch to Derby in an £8 million deal, potentially rising to £10 million.
His time at the Rams was hampered by two major knee injuries, which limited him to just 49 appearances in the East Midlands and eventually saw him move to Birmingham on loan for the 2022/23 campaign.
That season saw the Polish international thrive, and Blues were quick to make the move permanent the following summer.
A further 125 appearances have since made him a well-respected figure in the Midlands, but summer recruitment in the centre-back department at Birmingham has seen him slip down Chris Davies’ pecking order.
It is shrewd business from West Brom, who will have spent a combined total of £5 million on three new centre-backs—Nat Phillips, George Campbell, and now Krystian Bielik—amounting to half the fee they are set to receive from the impending £10 million sale of Torbjorn Heggem to Bologna.
Collyer To Impress On Loan
In the second piece of West Brom transfer news: the Baggies are in advanced negotiations to sign Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer on loan.
The Baggies lead the race for the signature of the 21-year-old who had as many as a dozen enquires from Championship clubs this summer.
Collyer moved to Old Trafford from his boyhood club Brighton in 2022 and made his senior debut just 12 months ago in the Community Shield final against Manchester City at Wembley.
The England youth international went on to make 13 senior appearances for the Red Devils last season, including six in the Premier League and four in the Europa League. He was an unused substitute in United’s defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
During United’s summer tour of the United States, Collyer stated that his main goal was to play “as many minutes as possible,” whether in Manchester or elsewhere.
His signing would bolster Ryan Mason’s midfield options, which currently include Alex Mowatt, Jayson Molumby, and Ousmane Diakite. This West Brom transfer news also boosts positivity around the club.
