Image credit: Getty Images
West Bromwich Albion have strengthened their defensive ranks with the signing of Poland international Krystian Bielik from Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee.
The 27-year-old has signed a three-year contract at The Hawthorns, becoming the latest addition in what has been a busy summer for the Championship club.
Capable of playing both as a centre-back and defensive midfielder, Bielik arrives with significant Championship pedigree, having made 129 appearances in the division. His signing is seen as a key reinforcement, particularly with Norwegian defender Torbjørn Heggem expected to complete a £10 million move to Bologna.
Speaking to Albion’s official website, Bielik expressed his excitement at the move: “Albion are a massive club. When I found out I could play for this team, I was really happy. The Championship is one of the hardest leagues, you have to be ready for everything that’s coming.
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“You have to be fit, you have to be strong physically and mentally. It’s nothing new for me, I’ve done it many times now, and I honestly can’t wait. I hope we can be very successful this season.”
Krystian Bielik
Krystian Bielik (Image credit: Getty Images)
Bielik’s career began in his homeland with Legia Warsaw before earning a £2.4 million move to Arsenal in 2015. Although his senior opportunities at the Emirates were limited to just two appearances, he gained valuable experience on loan at Birmingham, Walsall, and Charlton Athletic. His standout spell came at Charlton in 2018/19, where he scored in the League One play-off final against Sunderland and was named Man of the Match as the Addicks sealed promotion.
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A £10 million switch to Derby County followed in 2019, where he made 48 appearances and scored three goals. However, his progress was disrupted by two serious anterior cruciate ligament injuries in successive years. Bielik still made his mark, notably scoring a memorable 96th-minute equaliser against Birmingham in January 2022.
After rejoining Birmingham on loan for the 2022/23 season, he signed permanently in June 2023, making 68 appearances and occasionally captaining the side. His time at St. Andrew’s ended on a disappointing note as the club suffered relegation to League One last season, and he has not featured in any of their opening three fixtures this term.
On the international stage, Bielik has won 11 caps for Poland since making his debut in 2019. He was part of the squad that reached the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup but was left out of the Euro 2024 team.
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