Justin Seven-Seven provides another glimpse of exciting West Brom under-18s crop

Exciting Albion prospect Justin Seven-Seven marked his birthday weekend with two goals in a fine 4-0 win against Crystal Palace.

Seven-Seven turned 17 on Sunday, 24 hours after the towering striker’s latest goal haul for Albion’s under-18s.

A fine win at the club’s training base in Walsall in the penultimate Premier League South clash of the campaign has the junior Baggies fourth in the standings.

Their lofty position in the league of 15 clubs further underlines the exciting prospects in Chay Thompson’s under-18s ranks.

Albion under-18s’ season comes to an end on the road at second-placed Tottenham tomorrow. Neighbours Villa, who have recruited a host of Albion youngsters in recent years, are just out of reach in third. Runaway champions have a 16-point lead at the summit.

Smethwick-born Seven-Seven got Albion up and running against the Eagles with his seventh and eighth goals of the campaign. He converted a James Bythell through ball for his side’s opener.

Seven-Seven, a towering forward, had a goalbound shot blocked but doubled his tally after racing on to a George Shaw challenge to keep his cool and finish.

Forward Harry French, Albion’s 13-goal top scorer, made it three just before half-time after good work from Ryan Colesby, who has impressed this season and signed a professional contact.

Midfielder Bythell added a fine late fourth with a composed finish after a burst into the penalty area past a defender.

Albion have chalked up 14 wins from 27 league games under Thompson in the coach’s debut campaign at the helm.

Exciting full-back Alfie Maughan was named the club’s academy player of the 2025/26 season.

Devon-born striker French, 17, was recently one of four youngsters to sign first professional deals.

Also agreeing terms were goalkeeper Maxwell Moses, Dudley-born Cyprus youth international Antonio Perkins and ex-Wolves defender Shaw.

Striker Seven-Seven shot to prominence at the beginning of the season when he netted a seventh-minute opener in a 5-0 rout over Ipswich.

Having grown up a stone’s throw from The Hawthorns and the club’s academy base across the road from the stadium, Seven-Seven signed with the Baggies’ youth set-up aged nine.

He played grassroots football for Mahal FC and Soho Albion, the latter a development partner of Albion.

The forward signed a two-year scholarship last summer and is halfway through those terms.

Seven-Seven has enjoyed a breakthrough season at under-18s level and played a role in an FA Youth Cup run that ended in a fourth round penalty shootout defeat at Sunderland. The striker notched a dramatic stoppage time leveller for the visitors.

The teen has also enjoyed a memorable campaign on international scene.

Earlier this season he made his debut at youth level for Germany, the nation of his heritage.

Seven-Seven has notched up four caps for Germany under-17s and bagged a goal in a 7-0 rout of Finland in mid-February.

Albion u18s v Crystal Palace: Trialist A; Shaw, Perkins, Trialist B; Iddrisa, Colesby (Trialist C, 86), Blackshields, Maughan; French (Crowther, 72), Seven-Seven (Francis-Caesar, 72), Bythell (Okorodudu, 80).

Sub not used: Asomugha.