Manchester United are set to sanction a loan move for midfielder Toby Collyer, a vital step in his career.
After a 2024/25 season of promise, Toby Collyer might be a little disappointed to be sent out on loan in 2025/26. But this is exactly what he needs.
Collyer is on the verge of a season long loan move to Championship challengers West Bromwich Albion, BBC Sport report.
Ruben Amorim did not select Collyer in the final two games of pre-season, and he played only 88 minutes across the previous three games of action.
Toby Collyer in action for Manchester United wearing 2024/25 home kit.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Toby Collyer was on the precipice of a breakthrough
Manchester United signed Toby Collyer in early 2022 from Brighton and Hove Albion, making a rare swoop on the Seagulls’ academy.
Collyer was rated as one of the best defensive midfield prospects in the country, making his under-18s debut for Brighton at just 15.
He made only three appearances for United’s under-18s before moving on to under-21 level, and eventually the first team.
Toby Collyer impressed former boss Erik ten Hag during pre-season 2024, and he made his senior debut at Wembley in the Community Shield.
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This was one of several optimistic moments for Collyer last season that ended up being false dawns.
He came off the bench and impressed in a home loss to Liverpool, before taking Casemiro’s spot at the start of 2025, impressing in a Europa League clash against Rangers.
Amorim was reluctant to go all-in on Collyer and Casemiro ended up winning back his slot, with Collyer’s season trailing off due to injury.
Erik ten Hag’s three-man midfield system gave Collyer a better shot of game time in comparison to Amorim’s midfield two.
Collyer is competing with Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, and was well down the queue.
He cannot afford for this year to pan out the same way as last season, at a critical juncture in his career. Collyer played only six Premier League games last season, totalling 174 minutes, under two full matches.
At 21-years-old he needs to play competitive football, and this loan move serves him best.
Toby Collyer has two paths, both can benefit United
Ultimately Manchester United do not quite know what they have with Toby Collyer.
Is he a legitimate successor to £60 million midfielder Casemiro, or is he destined for a more modest career, below United standard?
The loan move to West Brom gives him an opportunity to grow, without growing restless on United’s bench.
This will be Casemiro’s final season at United due to his expiring contract, and in an ideal scenario for Collyer, he will return to the club next summer with more experience, and in a better situation to earn a starting spot.
Collyer must prove he can shine at Championship level in the same way Amad did at Sunderland, returning to the club stronger.
And if he cannot quite manage that, Collyer will still likely enhance his reputation to the point that United can still sell him on for a fee next summer to another Championship club.
United and West Brom are providing him with the chance to add to the 13 total senior appearances he has in professional football.
Whatever lies ahead in his career, this loan move is vital to the way it pans out.