by Staff Writer
Wednesday, 21st May 2025
West Bromwich Albion have released Grady Diangana on a free transfer - five years after he made a shock £19million move from West Ham United.
The Lubumbashi-born winger grew up in Woolwich before joining West Ham's Academy as a 12 year-old in 2010. He made his first team debut in September 2018 when the Hammers thrashed Macclesfield in a Carabao Cup clash.
However he was allowed to join Albion for a season-long loan during the summer of 2019 having made just 21 more appearances for Manuel Pellegrini's side, before sealing a permanent deal - for what was at the time a surprisingly high price - the following season.
The move also led to a great deal of criticism from the Hammers fanbase due to the implication that the club were willing to part with its most promising young players once again, having previously insisted this would not happen.
And while he went on to make more than 200 appearances for the Baggies during his six years in the Black Country, Diangana failed to live up to his early promise at West Ham United - which would retrospectively suggest the board were right to accept Albion's generous offer in 2020.
Confirming Diangana's departure from The Hawthorns, a statement on Albion's website read: "Midfielder Grady Diangana will be leaving the club at the end of June.
"Diangana joined in the summer of 2019 and played an instrumental role in helping the Baggies achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League in [his] maiden term at The Hawthorns.
"The DR Congo playmaker took just three minutes to score on his second-tier debut for the Baggies down at Luton Town in August 2019, before going on to notch the winner three minutes later.
"Diangana amassed 202 appearances for the Albion, scoring 26 goals. His final strikes for the club came in the 5-1 home victory over Portsmouth in January 2025 on an afternoon when he found the net twice."
Consequently a free agent, the former Hammer has been linked in recent days with a move to new Premier League member Leeds United.
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