West Brom’s leading goal-scorer and key playmaker, John Swift, garnered interest during the summer transfer window, but he was adamant about remaining with the club. Despite late inquiries from Championship clubs, Swift expressed his commitment to West Brom.
Swift, who is currently sidelined for six weeks due to a calf strain, was linked to a potential move to Coventry City in late August. Despite the club’s financial constraints and the need to balance their books, West Brom successfully fended off interest in Swift and other assets to ensure they had a strong squad for the Championship under manager Carlos Corberan.
Since then, Swift has demonstrated why it was wise to retain him, as he is currently the top scorer for West Brom, with six goals in the first 11 games of the season. He has already almost matched his entire goal tally from the previous year, with just one of those goals coming from a penalty.
Swift’s decision to stay at West Brom was influenced by his contentment with his surroundings, his enjoyment of time spent with teammates and coaching staff at the club’s Walsall training ground. When late interest and the possibility of a move arose in the summer, Swift promptly informed his agent that he had no intention of leaving.
Reflecting on his decision, Swift stated, “To be honest, it was so late in the window, I had no idea of it, and when it did come about, I knew it was two days left, and nothing was going to get done. Even if it did, I didn’t really want to leave. As soon as I found out, I rang my agent and told him I didn’t want to go. I wasn’t interested in leaving. I wanted to stay, and I had my mind set on staying since the end of last season’s game against Swansea. It was a no-brainer for me to stay.”
West Brom currently sits in mid-table in the competitive Championship standings, nearly a quarter of the way through the season. Despite the challenges posed by strong opponents in the league and the club’s struggles in the transfer window due to financial limitations, Swift believes in the collective goal of the club and its members.
He emphasized, “It’s West Brom, and we should be in the top six at least. The league is so competitive now, and every game is crucial. We’ve not started well, but we’ve not started badly either. With a couple of wins, we can climb the table. Everyone is confident in our abilities, especially with players like Grady returning and substitutes making a positive impact.”