Numbers that show West Brom progress - but big work still to do

A high priority on the owners' agenda, aside from their key head coach appointment, is to continue to bring down the lofty average age in the squad.

When the Shilen Patel-led group completed their £60million takeover from Guochaun Lai's Yunyi Guokai in February 2024, Albion had the highest average age in the Championship.

Albion averaged 27.6 years from a squad of 28 players used in the Championship in 2023/24. That was six months older, on average, than the next eldest squad.

The ownership began work on addressing the alarming statistic with the release of several experienced campaigners last summer including the long-serving Matty Phillips, as well as Erik Pieters, Yann M'Vila, Nathaniel Chalobah, Adam Reach and Martin Kelly.

James Morrison, the legendary former midfielder turned coach who finished the season as interim boss, said he hopes to see a younger Albion squad compete in the Championship next term.

Much of Albion's recruitment since the takeover has been focused on a younger age category with permanent signings above 25 limited to just second-choice goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith and back-up striker Devante Cole. Loan players Paddy McNair, Uros Racic, Mason Holgate and Adam Armstrong bumped up the average somewhat.

Ousmane Diakite (23 when signed), Torbjorn Heggem (25), Gianluca Frabotta (25), Callum Styles (24), Mikey Johnston (25), Isaac Price (21) and Tammer Bany (21) were all made with value and potential in mind.

Recruitment work so far has resulted in Albion shedding a little more than one year off the squad's average age.

The current crop still had the sixth eldest age in the Championship across 2024/25 with 26.4 years from 30 players used. Oxford, Blackburn, Preston, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby were older. By contrast Sunderland, Saturday's play-off finalists, have the youngest average age for the third season running, with 23.2 years.

Albion are still short of an average age roughly around 25 years, which would show real progress.

There is no exact science, but several of the clubs with the older squads have struggled this season and, by the nature of ageing players, there is less re-sale value and room for growth and development.

Bilkul have also shown loyalty to players who have still performed well beyond their mid-20s. New contracts were handed out to midfielder Alex Mowatt - who last summer at 29 penned a two-year deal with an appearance-related option of a third year - and right-back Darnell Furlong - who on the eve of his 29th birthday agreed likewise.

There is a clear ploy to reward those still showing they are capable, with an incentive attached in terms of the trigger.

The oldest player used by Albion this season was centre-back Kyle Bartley - who turned 34 on Thursday - and has triggered a new 12-month contract extension for next season.

The youngest player used by the Baggies in the league this term was Harry Whitwell, 19, from the bench for a sole appearance on the final day. Otherwise loanee Will Lankshear, who just turned 20, with permanent regular players Isaac Price and Tom Fellows at 21.

The Albion side named by Carlos Corberan to face Middlesbrough at home in a damaging home defeat in October was among the highest in the division for any team all season.

The Baggies that day: Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Heggem; Racic, Mowatt; Wallace, Swift, Grant; Maja.

Business has kicked off this summer with defender Semi Ajayi, 31, and attacker John Swift, soon 30, and Grady Diangana, 27, all released.

All three were relatively large earners. And particularly in the case of the first two it is the sign of refreshing things to inject more youthful quality in a squad who for too long has relied on ageing players.