'He looked done': Kyle Bartley's West Brom career and how he came back from brink as defender confirms retirement

All at the cost of £4m to Albion. It is fair to say Kyle Bartley was certainly a player where you can sit back and say, 'money well spent'.

The long serving defender, who was signed under Darren Moore back in 2018 brought an end to not just his time at Albion but his playing career on Friday - announcing his shock retirement.

Having still made 31 appearances at the heart of the Albion defence last season - it was expected Bartley would play a minor role for Albion under Ryan Mason but that won't be the case.

Despite his best efforts to rehabilitate from a knee injury - he has made the decision to hang up his boots.

With Bartley now going and Albion having interest in Torbjorn Heggem - it could be a big final few weeks of the window in terms of the backline.

But as Bartley departs, how will he be remembered by Albion fans?

Well, overall, considering the service he gave Albion after his arrival from Swansea and the number of games he has played, 232 in total, you would say he would be remembered quite well.

Here is a look back over Bartley's career at the Baggies.

'He looked done - but turned it all around'

Bartley arrived in 2018 after Albion's relegation from the Premier League following eight years in the top flight.

That summer they were spending, shelling out £4m on Bartley on the back of Sam Johnstone's £6.5m arrival.

The Arsenal academy graduate, who was plucked from Bolton by the Gunners as a youngster, was a first choice throughout his time with Albion.

In that first season, he was a key part of the side who reached the play-offs but were narrowly beaten by Aston Villa on penalties.

The following season was much the same, 40 appearances as he became a leadership figure in the Slaven Bilic promotion campaign as Albion crawled across the line.

He was back in the Premier League, where he had played a handful of times for Swansea.

Again a first choice in the top flight, Albion were immediately relegated after a poor campaign - but Bartley would remain a regular as they looked to bounce back at the first time of asking.

But it didn't happen. Under Valerien Ismael and then Steve Bruce, Albion looked a mundane side - with many believing those who had been at the club for some time, including Bartley, may need to be moved on.

The following campaign, the 2022/23 season, looked like it may well just be the end of Bartley at Albion.

The squad were underperforming and had been for some time. But Bartley was among one of the Albion players who was a target for fan criticism.

And in a 3-2 defeat against Birmingham City in September 2022 - it was hard to see a way back for the defender.

Scott Hogan netted a hat-trick for Blues at The Hawthorns. All three goals could be attributed to Bartley - and with 13 minutes left to play in the game Bartley was hooked off by Bruce.

Small sections of the fanbase cheered the substitution. Bartley wouldn't feature again for Bruce before his sacking a few weeks later.

He did come back after Bruce departed - but you could say that was nothing short of a disaster as he was sent off in a 2-1 defeat at Millwall under interim boss Richard Beale.

Many Albion fans struggled to see how Bartley could revive his Albion career. But revive it he did. And in part it was down to Carlos Corberan.

After Corberan's first win over Blackpool, Bartley was thrust back into the spotlight and would be a key figure for the Spaniard.

He went and netted the winner at QPR following a superb display. A week later he scored in a 2-0 win over Stoke.

Albion had won three on the bounce - and Bartley's stock had recovered.

Injuries hampered the rest of that campaign - but in the years that have followed, if he was fit, he played.

And when he played, Albion were better for it.

He featured 41 times in Corberan's only full season in charge as they missed out in the play-offs, and despite injuries last season he still turned out 31 times and struck up a solid partnership with Torbjorn Heggem.

Memorable moments will stick out for Albion fans and I'm sure Bartley himself. Goals, games, performances. But the infamous photograph of Bartley and former Baggies Craig Dawson going nose to nose in the fiery FA Cup clash with Wolves will stick in the memory.

Bartley was questioned at times for his performances and rightly so, but under various managers his leadership qualities were pointed out.

His seven year Albion career won't be the most well remembered period in the club's history, a promotion, and a relegation, followed by four straight years in the Championship.

However, he goes with a bit of fondness and best wishes after being a solid Albion servant.