West Brom have hit the transfer jackpot with £1.7m summer agreement | OneFootball

George Campbell is already having a big impact at The Hawthorns making the exits of Kyle Bartley and Torbjorn Heggem feel like distant memories.

West Brom have made a positive start to the 2025-26 Championship campaign under Ryan Mason, but it's fair to say there were some ups and downs in the transfer window that has just closed.

The Baggies are unbeaten after their opening four games, securing three victories and a controversial draw as the Black Country outfit aims to maintain their spot in the automatic promotion places.

Despite still being hamstrung by financial issues, Albion were shrewd in the summer transfer market, with a number of players arriving off the back of the big-money sales of Torbjorn Heggem and Tom Fellows to Bologna and Southampton respectively.

The Black Country outfit brought in a total of nine players, with one of those being American central defender George Campbell, who linked up from Montreal in a £1.7m deal.

So far, the 24-year-old has already put in some stellar performances when called upon by Ryan Mason, and has been a key factor to Albion maintaining a resolute defensive shape.

Along with losing Heggem, West Brom also waved goodbye to long-standing servant Kyle Bartley after he announced his retirement, but Campbell is certainly making those departures feel like distant memories as he contributes to a revamped backline.

George Campbell’s immediate impact at West Brom

George Campbell arrived at The Hawthorns with an impressive track record while in the MLS, earning his first call-up to the US international side back in January.

The towering 6ft 2in defender had to settle for a place on the bench on the opening day against Blackburn Rovers, making his debut for just a single minute as he helped Albion hold on to a 1-0 victory.

He then made his full debut in a Carabao Cup match against Derby County, as Albion were cruelly denied a clean sheet with virtually the last kick of the game and then lost on penalties.

After Torbjorn Heggem’s departure, Campbell was preferred to partner Nat Phillips for a tough away trip to Wrexham, and it was arguably his worst game in an Albion shirt so far, as the duo had never previously played together.

But Campbell responded in magnificent fashion by putting on his best performance of the season prior to the international break at Stoke City.

It was equally impressive given he had to play out of position at right-back following the exit of Darnell Furlong, as new arrival Chris Mepham slotted into the heart of the defence alongside Phillips.

But Campbell was terrific in that role, keeping dangerous wideman Sorba Thomas very quiet, as well as producing a fabulous block in the first half to deny a rasping shot from Divin Mubama, which typified such a strong display.

The American also ventured forward and offered an attacking threat where possible, but his defensive duties were outstanding to limit one of the Championship’s most creative wingers.

According to FotMob, he registered a 74% pass accuracy, made four recoveries, 10 defensive contributions and wasn’t dribbled past on one occasion, a testament to how solid he was in that position.

He’s already providing stern competition to fellow summer recruit Alfie Gilchrist, who has joined from Chelsea and won’t be happy settling for a place on the bench, so it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top in that battle for a starting spot.

But Campbell’s latest performance at right-back shows he’s got brilliant versatility in the backline, which will be hugely beneficial over the course of a Championship season when injuries begin to impact the squad.

Early signs are exciting for George Campbell, West Brom career

Heading into his maiden season in English football, not even George Campbell himself would have predicted the influence he would have on the team so soon after joining.

The American brings leadership, physicality and determination to a fully changed defensive line, with the likes of Nat Phillips, Chris Mepham and Charlie Taylor also bringing those qualities in abundance.

It’s something Ryan Mason has really looked to build in his short time at the football club, and there’s no doubt the Baggies will be a hard team to beat with such experienced figures – something that couldn’t have been imagined when they lost both Kyle Bartley and Torbjorn Heggem.

While Campbell is the more youthful figure there, he doesn’t look out of place at all, possessing attributes that suit the second-tier down to the ground, and he will only get better as the campaign progresses.

With Mepham and Phillips such a solid partnership at this level, it seems as if Campbell’s route to gametime will be at right-back, and while he’ll have a fight on his hands with Gilchrist, he should get further opportunities to shine and build on the positive start to life he’s made in the blue and white stripes.