West Bromwich Albion have signed defensive midfielder, Toby Collyer from Manchester United in a transfer worth £7.6m.
Collyer’s move to The Hawthorns comes after West Brom saw off interest from another of Collyer’s former loan clubs, Hull for the 22-year-old, with a £7.6m offer which was accepted by Utd involving a £3m fixed fee plus a further £4.6m in add-ons and a 40% sell-on clause.
Much of the add-ons are reportedly centred on West Brom achieving promotion to the Premier League, qualifying for Europe and receiving an England call-up during his time with the Baggies.
Collyer has signed a four-year contract at West Brom until June 2030 and is relishing the chance to return on a permanent transfer.
“There were a few reasons why I was so keen to return,” explained Collyer to WBA TV. “The size of the club is one of them. I also really enjoyed my time here on loan in the first half of last season.
“Another reason was the manager, James Morrison. He was really keen to have me back and that’s all you want in football – a manager who wants you and wants to see you do well.
“As I say, I really enjoyed every second of my loan spell here last season even though I didn’t reach the levels that I wanted to reach. That’s another reason why I wanted to come back here, to show everyone what I’m about and prove to everyone how much of a great player I am.
“I ended up following most of the Albion games in the second part of last season, to be honest. I remember coming back with Hull and getting the runaround.
“Being out on loan makes you grow up. Even though I didn’t have the best loan spells last season, I felt like I grew up and became much more of a man. I felt as though now was the right time to move on and really kick on with my career and I’m glad that I’ll get the chance to do that here.”
Collyer began his career in Brighton & Hove Albion’s Youth Academy before he moved to Man Utd in 2022 where he graduated into their senior team, and made his professional debut as a substitute in Utd’s 2024 FA Community Shield loss to Manchester City on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
He went on to make 13 senior appearances in total that season but was loaned out to West Brom in the first half of last season where he made 12 appearances, only to be recalled and loaned to Hull in late January but managed just five appearances for the Championship Play-Off winning Tigers.
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