How James Morrison's five predecessors first signings fared at West Brom

James Morrison kick-started his transfer business for the summer window with the signing of Scottish striker Barney Stewart from Falkirk.

The 22-year-old arrived for a fee of £1.3million and penned a four-year contract on Wednesday - while 19-year-old defender Carter Pinnington has signed from Liverpool, but will initially join the under-21s.

With the Baggies now up and running under Morrison, we take a look back at the first signings of each of his last five predecessors.

Max O’Leary

34-year-old Eric Ramsay made one permanent signing during his disastrous 44-day tenure at the Hawthorns.

Goalkeeper Max O’Leary was brought in on a six-month contract from Bristol City in January, but Ramsay was sacked the following month, after failing to win any of his nine games in charge.

West Brom were just one-point above the drop zone at the time of Ramsay’s departure, but finished the season four points clear of the bottom-three.

O’Leary registered eight clean sheets across his 16 appearances for Albion and earned himself a three-year contract extension under new head coach James Morrison.

Nat Phillips

Former Liverpool defender Phillips was unveiled as Ryan Mason’s first signing last summer when he penned a three-year deal.

Phillips had played 29 times for Liverpool in total and had one-year left on his deal at Anfield when Albion secured his signature.

Mason was axed after seven months, but Phillips went on to keep his place under Ramsay and Morrison.

The 29-year-old made 40 appearances in the Championship last term, scoring three goals - including match-winners against Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers in August and December respectively.

Isaac Price

Promotion-winning hero Tony Mowbray’s West Brom homecoming did not have the desired effect that many fans were dreaming of, but the signing of Price has proven to be a very shrewd piece of business.

The Northern Ireland international joined from Belgian outfit Standard Liege for a fee in the region of £2.5million in January 2025.

Price has scored nine goals and set-up five more in 64 appearances for the Baggies - including eight goals and three assists in 46 league games last term.

Marc Albrighton

Carlos Corberan took over in late October 2022 and collected 10 wins from his opening 13 matches in the Championship.

He did eventually move to strengthen his pack on transfer deadline day. First, Premier League winner Marc Albrighton joined on loan from Leicester City, before Nathaniel Chalobah arrived on an 18-month deal from Fulham.

Albrighton played 17 times for the Baggies and achieved promotion back to the Premier League with Leicester the following season, before hanging up his boots at the age of 34.

Meanwhile, Chalobah made 49 appearances during his one-and-a-half season spell at the Hawthorns - scoring once.

Jayson Molumby

Steve Bruce’s first summer signing saw Jayson Molumby sign on a three-year deal following his loan spell from Brighton during the 2021-22 season.

The Republic of Ireland made 31 appearances during his loan - scoring a consolation in a defeat at Middlesbrough in February 2022.

Molumby scored four goals apiece in 2023-24 and 2024-25 respectively and netted twice and set-up three more in 38 games last term.

Overall, the midfielder has registered nine goals and 11 assists in 181 appearances for the Baggies.