igned for £300k: West Brom hit the transfer jackpot with exciting attacker

At their third try, West Bromwich Albion hopes to continue their push for promotion back to the Premier League.

Since Carlos Corberan joined the Baggies in October 2022, their fortunes have drastically changed. Under his leadership, the Black Country went from being at the bottom of the second division to being in the running for the playoffs the previous season.

Under the former Huddersfield Town boss, Albion is still fighting for the top spot in the division, and West Brom fans are dreaming of playing in the premier league once more.

One player who has made a major contribution to Albion’s ascent up the table under Corberan is Brandon Thomas-Asante, a summer transfer from Salford City who was one of several players brought in by Steve Bruce.

It’s safe to assume that the 25-year-old has done well above that amount during his time in the Black Country thus far. In August 2022, he signed a contract at the Hawthorns for a reported fee of £300,000.

The stats of Brandon Thomas-Asante at West Brom

With ease, Thomas-Asante moved up two levels, and on his debut against Burnley, he showed off his goal-scoring prowess with an incredible equalizer. In his subsequent appearance, the forward would score a penalty in a West Midlands derby loss against Birmingham City.

Between Bruce’s departure and Corberan’s arrival, the Ghanaian would go ten games without scoring a goal. However, he would go on to win the season’s most valuable goal against Stoke City and score spectacular goals against Rotherham United and Bristol City before 2023.

With Daryl Dike sidelined due to a chronic injury and Karlan Grant’s goal-scoring ability having abandoned the team, Thomas-Asante found himself thrown into the deep end during the latter part of the season.

Although Albion barely made it into the top six, the Milton Keynes-born attacker would go on to score just twice from the final ten Championship games. Nevertheless, Thomas-Asante had performed admirably given the step up in class.

Under Corberan’s direction, Thomas-Asante, in his second season at the Hawthorns, has maintained his impressive goal scoring ways, recording double digits in all competitions while wearing a blue and white shirt.

Due to Josh Maja’s ankle problems and Dike’s ongoing absence, Thomas-Asante has once again primarily led the line by himself.

Between December 2023 and January 2024, the forward had a successful run in goal, scoring five goals in eight Championship games against Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, Sunderland, and Norwich City.

West Brom’s investment in Brandon Thomas-Asante has paid off

Considering the minimal fee spent by the Baggies in a troubling financial situation, Thomas-Asante has been a prized asset to the Albion frontline and kept them towards the top of the Championship table with his consistent level of goalscoring.

Thomas-Asante has remained a key component in Corberan’s system, with his tenacious work rate and clinical eye for goal two invaluable qualities he’s added to the playing squad since joining.

Since his rise up to the second tier, the 25-year-old has been linked with moves to multiple Championship outfits, with his ability to settle into life in B71 with such ease catching the eyes of several suitors.

Matty Phillips is back in the Baggies’ training program and might play a significant role in the last stretch of the championship.

Albion made a huge chance in buying him, but if he can maintain this level of growth, such a wise purchase might pay them financially in the future.

To give the Baggies supporters hope for victory, Albion will undoubtedly want to cling onto their youngster for the time being.

Thomas-Asante is proof that skilled players from League One and Two can advance if given the chance, thus West Brom should keep their strategy of bringing in players from the lower leagues.