Review of the Year: July to December - Jota tragedy & Hannah rules Europe
It has been another busy 12 months for sport in West Midlands and for all our clubs. Here is a look at some of the headlines from the second part of 2025.
July
Ryan Mason addressed the media as new Albion head coach, where he underlined his determination to write his own story at The Hawthorns.
Everybody connected with Wolves and Liverpool and the sporting world mourned the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, aged 28.
The Portugal international, a former Wolves favourite, and his brother Andre Silva died in a horror car crash in northern Spain leading to an outpouring of emotion and tributes outside Molineux and Anfield.
Albion tied up the £4.75million transfer of Norwegian striker Aune Heggebo, while Baggies winger Mikey Johnston was poised to move to Brazilian giants Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro, but the Samba club pulled out due to angry fan backlash after the Express & Star exclusive.
Lando Norris won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone for the first time in his career.
Walsall midfielder Jamie Jellis was hit by an FA betting charge later in the month, for placing more than 2,000 bets between 2019 and 2023.
Cyclist Ben Healy, 24, from Wordsley, created history by becoming the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de France.
Jannik Sinner claimed his first Wimbledon title after defeating his great rival Carlos Alcaraz. Iga Swiatek was crowned ladies champion for the first time.
Wolverhampton golfer Aaron Rai started day two of The Open just two shots off the lead. He finished tied 34th.
England Women became successive European champions. The Lionesses, with former Staffordshire schoolgirl Hannah Hampton between the sticks, beat Spain in the final.
August
Wolves’ season got off to a rough start as they lost their first three Premier League matches.
The main focus, outside of the results, was on the transfer window with the future of striker Jorgen Strand Larsen the subject of serious scrutiny after two big money bids from Newcastle.
Wolves turned down offers of £50million and £55m for the Norway international, with the club making clear he was not for sale. Full-backs David Moller Wolfe and Jackson Tchatchoua joined from AZ Alkmaar and Hellas Verona respectively.
Villa made their first big money outlay of the summer with the signing of Evann Guessand from Nice for an initial £23m but Unai Emery’s team endured a poor start to the season, taking just one point from their first three matches to sit just one place above Wolves in the table.
The month ended with Emi Martinez’s future in serious doubt after he was left out of a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, with Emery claiming the goalkeeper was not “100 per cent” focused amid reported interest from Manchester United.
Albion made an impressive start in the Championship, taking 10 points from their opening four matches amid hectic transfer activity which included the exits of Torbjorn Heggem to Bologna and Tom Fellows to Southampton.
Krystian Bielik, Chris Mepham and Alfie Gilchrist were among the incomings, while winger Samuel Iling-Junior joined on loan from Villa.
Walsall won four of their first six matches in League Two.
In cricket, Wednesfield’s Davina Perrin scored the fastest century by an English woman in T20 to help Northern Superchargers win The Hundred.
The 18-year-old reached triple figures from just 42 balls to help her team defeat London Spirit in the Eliminator.
England suffered a fifth Test defeat at the Oval as a thrilling series with India ended 2-2.
Chris Woakes, who suffered a dislocated shoulder when fielding on the first day, went out to bat with his left arm in a sling as he looked to help the hosts over the line on a dramatic final morning.
Worcestershire beat Somerset to reach the final of the One-Day Cup.
