Isaac Price has begun the 2025/26 campaign in style, propelling his club, West Bromwich Albion, into the automatic promotion places while continuing his knack for scoring for his nation, Northern Ireland.
The 21-year-old was on the scoresheet again during this international break, this time against 2014 World Cup winners Germany, as he rifled in a volley in Northern Ireland’s 3-1 defeat during qualifying for next summer’s international tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
That goal made him the youngest-ever player to reach double figures for the Green and White Army, moving him above the likes of George Best in the all-time goalscoring charts.
Price is no stranger to breaking international records, having also become the youngest-ever player to score a hat-trick for Northern Ireland at the age of just 21.
His stunning form has caught the eye of many this season — but how did Price reach this point, after leaving England at just 19 to pursue and develop his career abroad?
Gerrard’s Influence On The West Bromwich Albion Man
Isaac Price, born in Yorkshire, signed for Everton at the age of seven – a club he and his family would come to love over the course of his 12-year association on Merseyside.
A 90-minute journey to the training ground from their home in Pontefract became part of the Price family’s daily routine, as did the trips to Goodison Park at weekends to watch the Toffees.
Price rarely missed watching a home game during his time at Everton as a youngster and was even chosen to be a ball boy on numerous occasions at the age of 11.
Yet, despite his Evertonian ties, Price’s idol was a player from their greatest and most despised rivals, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.
“Gerrard is the best box-to-box player I’ve ever seen. His work rate is fantastic, as are his technique and goalscoring.”
It’s no surprise to see aspects of the Reds legend’s game reflected in Price’s today.
Turning The Toffees Down
Price came on leaps and bounds during his Everton youth days, as mentors such as Leighton Baines pushed him to play in higher age groups to further develop his game both physically and technically.
This progress caught the eye (and famous eyebrow) of then-manager Carlo Ancelotti, with the club rewarding Price with a three-year contract in 2020.
The Northern Irishman began training with the first team at the age of 17 and was selected for the bench in the Premier League against Brighton in April 2021.
However, after a spell back with the Under-23s, it wasn’t until Frank Lampard — England teammate of his idol Steven Gerrard — became Everton manager that Price finally made his Premier League debut, on the final day of the 2021/22 season.
Price received loan offers from Premier League and Championship clubs, but he rejected them in order to fight for a regular first-team spot at Everton during the final season of his contract – a campaign that ultimately offered limited opportunities for the midfielder.
Lampard was later sacked and replaced by Sean Dyche, a change that Price described in his own words as: “A new manager came in and I felt pushed aside, and that just built up the frustration.”
Although a new contract was offered, despite him being limited to just one senior appearance that season, Isaac made the massive decision to turn it down and pursue his career abroad in Belgium in search of more regular first-team football.
Standard Liege Learning And Return To England
When Price completed a £400,000 move to Standard Liège in Belgium, he was just 19 years old and had previously only ever lived with his family.
It was a bold step to take, but one that duly paid off.
Price announced himself in the Belgian Pro League with a 90th-minute winner against arch-rivals Club Brugge, rifling in a screamer from 25 yards.
The 2023/24 season proved to be his breakout campaign, as he made 39 appearances for Standard Liège and was handed his international debut against San Marino in March 2023 by Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill.
His performances quickly attracted attention, and he became the subject of a bidding battle between Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion in the January of this year.
Price chose West Bromwich Albion, joining the West Midlands club at an outlay of £2.5 million on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He was even given a tour of The Hawthorns by former Albion legend and ex-Northern Ireland international Chris Brunt upon his arrival
Price admitted he was “over the moon” to return to England, while sporting director Andrew Nestor described him as “a bright, young player, whose dynamic midfield play, continues our commitment to develop a more youthful, style of play”.
The youngster thoroughly impressed West Bromwich Albion fans throughout the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, showing his versatility by featuring in several positions – even at right-back.
Now, following the departure of academy product Tom Fellows, Price has taken on the mantle of being the club’s new star boy and has started the season in flying form, with three goals and two assists in just five games.
The long-sleeved shirt, silky touch and ability to glide across the pitch have seasoned Baggies fans reminiscent of the days of Jason Koumas.
It now seems a question of when, not if, Isaac Price will return to Merseyside as an established Premier League player.
