At their third try, West Bromwich Albion hopes to continue their push for promotion back to the Premier League.

Since Carlos Corberan joined the Baggies in October 2022, their fortunes have drastically changed. Under his leadership, the Black Country went from being at the bottom of the second division to being in the running for the playoffs the previous season.

Under the former Huddersfield Town boss, Albion is still fighting for the top spot in the division, and West Brom fans are dreaming of playing in the Premier League once more.

One player who has made a major contribution to Albion’s ascent up the table under Corberan is Brandon Thomas-Asante, a summer transfer from Salford City who was one of several players brought in by Steve Bruce.

West Brom: 2022/23 Signings
Player Name Signed From Loan/Permanent
Brandon Thomas-Asante Salford City Permanent
Jayson Molumby Brighton Permanent
John Swift Reading Permanent
Jed Wallace Millwall Permanent
Okay Yokuslu Celta Vigo Permanent
Nathaniel Chalobah Fulham Permanent
Tom Rogic Celtic Loan
Marc Albrighton Leicester City Loan
Martin Kelly Crystal Palace Permanent

The 25-year-old signed a contract at the Hawthorns in August 2022 for an alleged sum of £300,000, and it’s safe to say he’s already exceeded that amount in his time in the Black Country.

Brandon Thomas-Asante’s numbers at West Brom

With ease, Thomas-Asante moved up two levels, and on his debut against Burnley, he showed off his goal-scoring prowess with an incredible equalizer. In his subsequent appearance, the forward would score a penalty in a West Midlands derby loss against Birmingham City.

Between Bruce’s departure and Corberan’s arrival, the Ghanaian would go ten games without scoring a goal. However, he would go on to win the season’s most valuable goal against Stoke City and score spectacular goals against Rotherham United and Bristol City before 2023.

With Karlan Grant having departed the squad and Daryl Dike sidelined due to a long-term injury, Thomas-Asante was thrown into the deep end for the latter part of the season.

Although Albion barely made it into the top six, the Milton Keynes-born attacker would go on to score just twice in the final ten Championship games. Nevertheless, Thomas-Asante had performed admirably given the step up in class.

Under Corberan’s direction, Thomas-Asante, in his second season at the Hawthorns, has maintained his impressive goal-scoring ways, recording double digits in all competitions while wearing a blue and white shirt.

Due to Josh Maja’s ankle problems and Dike’s ongoing absence, Thomas-Asante has once again primarily led the line by himself.

Between December 2023 and January 2024, the forward had a successful run in goal, scoring five goals in eight Championship games against Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, Sunderland, and Norwich City.

West Brom’s investment in Brandon Thomas-Asante has paid off

Thomas-Asante has been a valued member of the Albion front line and has helped the team stay at the top of the championship table with his steady goal-scoring output, especially when you take into account the little fee paid by the Baggies in a precarious financial situation.

Thomas-Asante has continued to be an important member of Corberan’s team because of his relentless work ethic and keen goal-scoring ability, two traits he brought to the playing group when he first joined.

The 25-year-old has been linked to moves to many championship teams since moving up to the second division, and his ease of adjusting to life in B71 has drawn the attention of several suitors.