West Brom close in on striker Josh Maja free transfer

Maja checks in after his departure from French Ligue 2 outfit Bordeaux, who he called time on four-and-a-half years with at the end of his contract earlier this summer. The London-born striker netted 16 goals in 38 appearances last term as his side missed out on promotion back to the top tier.

Maja is a long-term target of the club and seen as a coup by Albion in the context of working against their current financial backdrop. Bordeaux were keen to retain his services this summer and there was a host of Championship interest, including from Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday. Rangers were also linked earlier in the window.

The frontman adds crucial competition to Carlos Corberan's frontline at The Hawthorns. The Spanish head coach had only Brandon Thomas-Asante as an available senior striker to call on at his disposal with Albion's Championship campaign kicking off at Blackburn on Saturday. Fellow striker Daryl Dike (Achilles) is sidelined with injury until the end of 2023.

Maja rose to prominence at Sunderland, where he broke through into senior ranks having played junior football at Fulham and Crystal Palace. It was with the Black Cats where 15 goals in 24 League One outings earned Maja a bumper move to France on a lengthy deal for a fee worth up to £3.5million having just turned 20.

He had a mixed time overseas but departed this summer with a goal record of 29 in 93 games, either side of loans with Fulham, where he scored goals in the top flight, and at Stoke – with the latter he managed just one goal in 15 Championship games in 2021/22.

Maja's arrival comes as a timely pre-season boost for Albion, who are working under tight financial restraints due to a lack of investment and parachute payments.

The striker has been on the club's radar for some time. Albion ran the rule on other forwards, including FC Midtjylland's Sory Kaba on the shortlist. Jeremy Sarmiento had previously checked in loan from Brighton as the first signing of the summer.

Focus is on recouping fees where possible, with winger Grady Diangana and goalkeeper David Button among those attracting interest and possibly heading for an exit.