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Champions League and non-league: The 2019 deadline day West Brom trio who ended up in very different places

Samuel Iling-Junior's capture first emerged on Sunday - while Albion made a late move to bring in Charlie Taylor as left back cover along with Callum Styles.

Much of the work had been done last week and earlier in the window - in what ended up being an impressive summer for Albion.

It hasn't always been that way though, with transfer window scrambles sometimes left until the last minute.

One of the busiest windows of recent times came back in January 2019 - when Albion were pushing for immediate promotion back to the top flight.

Darren Moore wanted to add to his squad - and he was boosted by trio of deadline day signings in the form of Jacob Murphy, Stefan Johansen and Jefferson Montero.

When you read those three names, they don't stick out to you as memorable signings - because they weren't.

But what has happened to them after their loan spells at Albion? Two of them have taken very, very different career paths.

**Jacob Murphy**

Murphy came onto the scene with Norwich and after a host of loan spells was sold to Newcastle 2017.

He played a decent number of first team games before Albion captured him on the 2019 January deadline.

His spell at Albion was an underwhelming one with just two goals in 15 games.

It is safe to say when that time at Albion came to an end, no one saw him going on to become a first team regular and help fire Newcastle into the Champions League after a lengthy absence from Europe.

![Newcastle players celebrate](https://resizer.nationalworld.com/c487ee00-deb2-44ef-9104-8a943fe786d6.jpg?tr=w-300)

Jacob Murphy (Owen Humphreys/PA)

But that is what has happened. Despite the millions spend, Murphy has been a key player for Eddie Howe's side for a number of years.

**Stefan Johansen**

After a decent career in Norway, he first taste of British football came with Celtic before to Fulham.

A regular in the Championship, Johansen had a brief 13 game spell with Albion at the back end of that campaign.

A tidy and solid player, he then went back to Fulham before making a loan and then a permanent move to QPR.

He left in 2023 - before the former Norway captain returned to his native country and last played in 2024.

**Jefferson Montero**

The 64 cap Ecuador winger came to Europe with Villarreal and after spell in Spain - went on to sign for Swansea.

He is most associated with that spell in South Wales, which also included a brief loan stint at Albion. It was brief, just four games it lasted but it did include one goal.

![Jefferson Montero in action for Albion](https://resizer.nationalworld.com/d5aaf795-39ec-47b0-8e17-f5d379e272ef.jpg?tr=w-300)

Jefferson Montero in action for Albion

After Swansea, he featured in Mexico and Ecuador before he bizarrely popped in step five of the English non league system with FC St Helens.

He briefly appeared for the North West outfit last season, but it doesn't seem to have lasted longer than that with no mention of Montero in the St Helens' squad for this season.

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