Football
Exclusive: West Brom Move to Secure Josh Maja with New Contract Amid Southampton Interest
West Bromwich Albion want to renew Josh Maja's contract as it expires in the summer. Southampton is monitoring the striker's form, who has recovered from injury but is still working towards peak fitness. Maja has had previous stints at Sunderland, Bordeaux, Fulham, and Stoke City before joining West Brom.
West Bromwich Albion FC v Sheffield United FC - Sky Bet Championship by Malcolm Couzens | Getty Images
West Bromwich Albion want to tie striker Josh Maja to a new deal, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The 26-year-old’s current contract runs out in the summer, but Ryan Mason and the club’s hierarchy do not want to lose the player for free come the end of the season.
Last season’s top scorer, who scored 12 goals before a season-ending injury, has recovered from a nasty ankle issue and returned to action this season.
Southampton have been long-term admirers of the former Sunderland striker and are keeping tabs on the player’s form this season.
The one-time Nigerian international is yet to get off the mark this term, who scored seven goals in his first six games last season, and is still working his way towards full fitness.
Looking to get back to best
Maja started his professional career at Sunderland and scored 16 times in 41 league appearances whilst he was at the Black Cats.
He moved to France and spent a four-year spell at Bordeaux, which included loan spells at Fulham and Stoke City.
In 2021, he was a deadline-day signing in West London as he moved to Fulham during their relegation battle.
He scored twice on debut during a 2-0 win against Everton, but the club were eventually relegated back to the Championship.
The following year, Maja went on loan to Stoke as they finished mid-table in the second tier.
In the 2022/23 campaign, after Bordeaux were relegated to Ligue 2, Maja was a constant feature leading the line for the club.
He scored 16 goals in 38 appearances and turned down an option of a further year at the club, opting for a return to England instead.
Maja has struggled for injuries since his move to West Brom, but has scored 13 times in 42 games for the club.
Shane is an experienced sports journalist with over a decade on the front line, covering everything from football to horse racing. A familiar face in the snooker pressroom, his work regularly appears in the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star, alongside SportsBoom.
While snooker is where many readers know him best, cricket is his true sporting passion, though he tends to keep that side of him separate from his professional beat.
A staunch traditionalist, he’s unlikely to share your enthusiasm if you believe The Hundred is the future of Test cricket.