From Marton Fulop to Darren Fletcher - 10 Years of West Brom Free Transfers
- Louis Bent
- Oct 11, 2021
- 5 min read
The signing of Alex Mowatt for no transfer fee has been seen as one of the best pieces of business from West Bromwich Albion in recent times.
Often looking for free transfers in order to bolster their ranks, with squad depth always remaining an issue for Albion, the club has been both helped and hindered by free transfers over the past 10 years.
West Brom have certainly seen the best of both worlds, here are some of the best and worst that I've picked out.
Nicolas Anelka
Two-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner Anelka joined the club on a free transfer following his release from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.
The then 34-year-old joined Steve Clarke's high-flying Baggies' side who had finished a club record 8th place Premier League finish.
Anelka received mixed feelings from the Baggies' faithful, his age being the main concern. However, Albion fans were willing to give him encouragement and support.
Trouble brewed with the Frenchman early on in his West Brom career, when just a week after the Premier League season started, Anelka reportedly walked out of training expressing his wishes to retire.
The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain striker finally burnt his bridges with the club, performing a 'quenelle' gesture following scoring his first goal for the club in a 3-3 draw against West Ham United.
Anelka's time at West Brom came to an end in February of 2014, with the termination of his contract coming due to gross misconduct.
Gareth McAuley
The former Lincoln City, Ipswich Town and Leicester City defender joined the Baggies' following the expiration of his contract at Ipswich.
After over 100 appearances for the Tractor Boys, McAuley penned a three-year deal at The Hawthorns.
By the time he'd joined Albion, the Northern Ireland international had already made 26 caps for the Green and White Army.
Despite it being his first season in the Premier League, McAuley bolstered then West Brom manager Roy Hodgson's back-line and scored his first top-flight goal against Newcastle United in a 3-2 away victory.
The then 33-year-old won the Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year after an impressive 2012/13 season, becoming an ever-present and popular member of the West Brom squad.
An iconic Gareth McAuley moment came away at Chelsea, Albion beating the Blues for the first time in 33 years thanks to a goal from the Northern Irishman.
The centre-back provided West Brom with seven years of service in the Baggies' back-line before departing following the club's relegation to the Championship.
It's safe to say after being a staple part of the Albion side for a number of years, McAuley will go down as one of the best free-agents ever signed by the club.
Marton Fulop
Despite making only one league appearance for the Baggies', Marton Fulop left a lasting impression on West Bromwich Albion fans - especially their pacemakers.
After being signed on a free transfer, like McAuley from Ipswich Town mainly to be used as a back-up for Ben Foster following Boaz Myhill's loan to Birmingham City.
The Hungarian International made two cup appearances for West Brom, before being handed his league debut against Arsenal on the final day of the 2011/12 season in Roy Hodgson's final game as Albion manager.
The Baggies' went on to lose that game 3-2, with Fulop on all three occasions being at fault.
For the first goal, the 'keeper gave the ball away on the edge of his own box, for the second Fulop let a tame shot through his hands and into the net, and for the Arsenal winner, the Hungarian punched a cross backwards and into the net.
After just one Premier League appearance, Fulop was promptly released only three days after his catalogue of errors against the Gunners.
Marton, unfortunately, passed away recently at the age of 32.
Darren Fletcher
A seasoned professional in the game, former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher joined Tony Pulis' West Brom side in January of 2015.
The five-time Premier League winner moved with a huge reputation in the top-division and was handed the captain's armband on his debut for the Baggies', coming against Burnley.
The former United man became an ever-present figure of the Albion starting eleven and didn't miss a minute of Premier League action between his debut and October the same year.
Fletcher provided a great influence in the dressing room and acted as a model professional throughout his time at the club, making over 100 appearances before leaving for Stoke City.
The midfielder is now the technical director at his former club Manchester United and was labelled as a "fantastic professional and fantastic human being," by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Diego Lugano
The experienced centre-back joined Albion from Paris-Saint-Germain after an unsuccessful loan spell at Spanish side Malaga.
The then 33-year-old held a big reputation in South American and European football, having made 91 international appearances for Uruguay, including playing at the 201-0 FIFA World Cup where La Celeste grabbed a 4th placed finish.
The Uruguayan didn't adapt well to his first season in England, becoming flat-footed in many instances and exposed for a lack of pace on several occasions - although he did score a goal against Everton from a corner.
The less said about Lugano the better, the defender only made nine appearances for West Brom and was released after the club triggered a break clause in his contract.
Hal-Robson Kanu
Definitely the most marmite West Bromwich Albion player of my time, Hal-Robson Kanu was probably the most famous free agent following Euro 2016.
Kanu stole the headlines after a Cruyff turn in the European Championship Quarter-final tie against Belgium, that wiped out the entire red devil's defence.
It was to be Albion who took a chance on the Welshman, who swooped in to sign him on deadline day following his release from Championship outfit Reading.
Kanu became a staple part of the Baggies squad, making his first start count by bagging a goal and an assist away at Southampton.
In Albion's second game of the 2017/18 season against Burnley, Robson-Kanu became only the fourth player in Premier League history to get substituted on, score then get sent off.
The striker appeared 154 times (mainly as a substitute) and scored 24 goals during his time at West Brom, however, many would argue that the forward should've had his contract extended beyond the summer of 2021.
Claudio Yacob
Without a doubt, the Argentinian is my favourite free agent on this list, signing from Racing Club in 2012 after a five-year stay at the club.
The tough-tackling midfielder provided a ruthless stance on the pitch and wowed Albion fans with an impressive debut against Liverpool as he pocketed some of the most coveted playmakers in the game.
Never really known for getting on the scoresheet, the Carcarana-born midfielder scored his first goal against Arsenal at The Hawthorns.
Yacob was certainly one for a tackle and picked up 41 yellow cards whilst playing in the Premier League for the Baggies'.
The Argentine will go down as a cult hero at The Hawthorns, and an example of some fantastic scouting from the club.
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