West Brom academy stars tipped to make their mark under new boss in pre-season

Albion's head coach in waiting will arrive at The Hawthorns to a promising crop of youthful talent pushing to make a breakthrough.

There will be friendly opportunities during the summer as youngsters supplement a squad still being pieced together. There is a likelihood the club could make a return to an overseas training camp after several years without heading abroad.

We spoke to James Morrison, who finished the season as Baggies caretaker boss but has been a youth coach at The Hawthorns, to discover which talents from the under-21s squad are poised to make an impact.

Ollie Bostock

There is a lot of excitement that 18-year-old winger Bostock, who tends to typically play on the left flank, can make a big impression on the Albion first team in the near future.

The Wales under-21 international is quick, direct and skilful with an eye for goal.

He was unfortunate with injury in the season just completed and had his under-21s campaign limited to just 13 appearances, having played 16 times in 2023/24, where he was academy player of the year.

His first professional contract, agreed early last year, takes the Lichfield-based winger up to next summer. He missed out on a senior debut due to injury last August in the EFL Cup defeat at League Two Fleetwood and will be champing at the bit to make up for it next term.

Bostock has been tipped to make a similar impact to Tom Fellows - and spoke about just that to the Express & Star earlier this season.

Harry Whitwell

No stranger to Baggies fans - midfielder Whitwell has been a very well-regarded prospect at The Hawthorns for some time now.

Whitwell, 19, penned a first pro deal more than two years ago and since extended his terms at the club. The Oxford-born energetic midfielder made his league debut for the Baggies on the final day of the season as a substitute in the 5-3 victory over Luton.

Whitwell was close to a loan move to League Two Cheltenham in January - which would have been his first away from the club - and it remains to be seen if he can make a big enough impression on the new head coach this summer to stake a claim on the senior squad.

He, like Bostock, was well thought of by former boss Carlos Corberan. It may be the case that Whitwell has progressed beyond under-21 standard now and is ready for a chance.

Jamal Mohammed

A central defender who had to bide his time for much of the last two years - but who is hopefully ready to make his mark.

Towering centre-back Mohammed, who turned 19 in April, penned a first pro deal with Bostock until 2026 while midway through rehabilitation on a serious injury setback which would sideline him for the best part of 18 months.

Mohammed, who was born in London, was recruited at under-16s level after being released by former club Peterborough - a swoop which is a nod to Albion's scouting business at that level.

He quickly caught the eye and appeared - and played well - in pre-season friendlies under Corberan two summers ago, notably against Cheltenham. He stands tall at 6ft 5ins and is a cool customer in possession.

Them came a nightmare setback, however, with a bilateral meniscus and ACL injury in August 2023. He finally returned in February 2025 and slotted back in seamlessly, impressing youth coaches and then boss Tony Mowbray. Mohammed was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw at Burnley in March.

Eseosa Sule

Scottish striker Sule, who also turned 19 in April, has made an impression in front of goal over the last few months.

The former Celtic prospect checked into the Baggies as a scholar in January 2023 and developed as a regular player - and scorer - for Richard Beale's under-21s side.

Sule is a lean, pacy striker with an eye for goal. He netted seven times in 18 Premier League 2 fixtures last term and a further five in seven Premier League Cup ties.

He has yet to make a big impression on the first team in terms of regular training in pre-season, but is expected to be given the nod to be assessed during pre-season.

Sule's contract, signed on his 17th birthday, expires this summer and he is understood to have agreed new terms.

Michael Parker

Left-sided defender Parker, 20, took the scenic route to arrive at the Baggies as a 19-year-old last September.

Like Mohammed, he is also a London-born defender, but Parker has already had short professional spells at Huddersfield, Shrewsbury and Burnley in the Football league.

He was snapped up by the academy last summer following a successful trial after being released by Burnley, where he did not make a senior appearance.

Lightning-quick and physical Parker is a centre-back by trade but was used as a left-back in the second half of the season, where his pace caught the eye. His one-year deal expires this summer and the expectation is he will stay. He played 29 times for the under-21s last term.