Report: Highly-rated talent snubs Championship move for PL return after West Brom release

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Burnley have confirmed the arrival of West Brom product Harry Williams on a one-year contract after leaving The Hawthorns as a free agent last month.

Williams spent six years in the Baggies’ academy but has accepted a return to the Premier League with the Clarets. The 18-year-old impressed the Lancashire side during a trial towards the end of last season and now joins their U23s.

Burnley will want Williams to graduate their academy and establish a senior footing, having failed to at West Brom. The centre-back was tipped for big things in the West Midlands, per Birmingham Live, but left without a first-team appearance.

And Williams will now need to show his potential at Burnley to earn a longer-term career at the club. His initial one-year contract includes an option to extend by a further year, potentially taking him to his 20th birthday.

West Brom’s Championship rivals Birmingham City also expressed their interest in Williams before he joined Burnley, per Birmingham Live. But the towering teenager opted for Turf Moor after the Baggies informed him of his release.

Williams began his Burnley career at Barnfield last week, before travelling with their U23s to Scotland on Monday for pre-season training once the paperwork was finalised. The English talent will hope it’s the start of a bright Turf Moor future after his West Brom plight.

Williams needed a fresh start at Burnley after West Brom release

Williams had to find a fresh start after West Brom released him and felt Burnley will offer that. He only featured sporadically for the Baggies’ U23s last season after being a staple of their U18s line-up.

He even occasionally captained their U18s but was unable to consistently show the same potential in the next grade. And ultimately, Williams left West Brom with an easy decision to not renew his contract this summer before Burnley swooped.

West Brom will now hope Williams does not fulfil their big expectations at Burnley. They will rue letting a rising star slip through their fingers if the teenager becomes a star at Turf Moor. Especially with Sean Dyche potentially needing a James Tarkowski replacement soon.