West Brom faces a series of key contract decisions heading into summer 2024, involving players whose deals will expire in the next year. The dynamics of professional football contracts can significantly impact both players and clubs, depending on their remaining duration. Having three or more years left on a contract offers stability for both parties, especially if the player is an asset. However, long-term contracts can become challenging for clubs when dealing with players no longer in their plans.
Conversely, contracts with shorter durations introduce an element of uncertainty. Clubs must evaluate whether players merit contract extensions and consider the players’ preferences for staying or moving on. In cases where players want to leave, they may run down their contracts, leave on a free transfer, or force early sales.
West Brom has started preparations for the upcoming summer by assessing the contract situations of various squad members. Some senior players, including Jake Livermore, Tom Rogic, and Kean Bryan, have departed the club, while others are entering the final 12 months of their contracts. Here are the contract statuses of all players in the squad:
Summer 2024 (loans):
- Jeremy Sarmiento (Brighton)
- Pipa (Ludogorets)
West Brom’s summer transfer business for 2023 involved loaning Jeremy Sarmiento from Premier League side Brighton and acquiring full-back Pipa on deadline day, on loan from Ludogorets.
Summer 2024:
- Alex Mowatt
- Rayhaan Tulloch (on loan at Bradford)
- Cedric Kipre
- Matt Phillips
- Ethan Ingram (on loan at Salford)
- Jovan Malcolm (on loan at Cheltenham)
- Tom Fellows
- Adam Reach
- Martin Kelly
- Kyle Bartley
- Nathaniel Chalobah
- Reyes Cleary
- Ted Cann
- Josh Shaw
- Reece Hall
- Jamie Andrews (on loan at Grimsby)
- Brad Foster
- Aaron Harper-Bailey
- Layton Love
- Narel Phillips
- Fenton Heard
- Ruben Shakpoke
A significant portion of the squad’s contracts will reach their final year. Some players, such as Alex Mowatt and Adam Reach, are two-thirds into three-year deals they signed in the summer of 2021. Matt Phillips extended his contract until 2024 at the start of the 2021-22 season. Cedric Kipre, who spent a season on loan at Cardiff, is now three-quarters through his four-year contract that began in 2020.
Tom Fellows gained experience in the EFL during a loan spell and returned to the club. Martin Kelly, who joined in the summer, suffered a season-ending injury while on loan at Wigan and is in the process of recovery. Ethan Ingram experienced first-team football at the beginning of the last season and is currently out on loan. Kyle Bartley triggered an extension to his contract.
Upon arriving in January, Nathaniel Chalobah signed an 18-month contract. Several young players signed one-year deals this summer, providing them with another season to make an impression. Ruben Shakpoke joined West Brom on a one-year contract in the summer as a free agent.
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