Why every penny of West Brom's £1.5m Middlesbrough investment was worth it | OneFootball

West Brom struck gold with £1.5m signing of James Morrison from Middlesbrough

West Brom's £1.5m investment in James Morrison for Middlesbrough was worth every penny as he went on to become a club legend at the Hawthorns.

West Brom club legend James Morrison arrived at the Hawthorns from Middlesbrough in 2007 for a fee of £1.5m, which in hindsight can be regarded as an absolute steal for the Baggies, who benefited from 12 years of his service.

The midfielder turned out to be a shrewd piece of business for the Baggies as he is most remembered for his long service to the club, which contributed to their recent success in earning promotion to the Premier League, where they stayed for eight years between 2010-2018.

Morrison will go down as one of the club's most 'value for money' signings in their history, and as for Middlesbrough, they were sure left with regret at letting such an exciting young prospect depart at the age of 21. Boro perhaps didn't see Morrison's potential, but the Baggies did.

The versatile Morrison created many moments of brilliance that will live long in the memory of West Brom fans. The 341 games he played for the club are a testament to his willingness to give his all for the badge, and he will forever be held in the hearts of all involved at the Hawthorns.

James Morrison became an instant hit at the Hawthorns

Upon his arrival in the West Midlands, Morrison made an immediate impact for the Baggies as he featured 35 times in the league for an Albion team that went on to lift the Championship title under manager Tony Mowbray.

In his second season at the club, Morrison really kicked on as he quickly became part of the fixtures and fittings, making 30 appearances in the top-flight where he scored three goals and provided four assists. However, despite his best efforts in keeping his side up in a relegation battle, West Brom faced a swift return to the Championship.

It wasn't long, however, before West Brom cemented their position in the Premier League, this time there to stay under the guidance of Roberto Di Matteo. From the second promotion, Albion enjoyed an eight-year stint in the top-flight where Morrison continued to play a key role as he consistently made over 30 Premier League appearances per season. His best seasons in terms of output came in 2012 and 2013, as he scored five goals and provided five assists in consecutive seasons. It is during this period that West Brom enjoyed their highest ever Premier League finish, coming eighth in 2012/13.

Things took a took for the worse for West Brom and Morrison as the club suffered relegation in 2018, alongside the midfielder spending a lengthy period of time on the sidelines due to an injury to his Achilles tendon. His experience in the squad was dearly missed.

Morrison, on his return, featured 19 times for the Baggies in the Championship and helped them on their way to the play-offs, in which they narrowly lost to Aston Villa on penalties. Their unsuccessful promotion push led to Morrison hanging up his boots, which was a sad and sorry time for Baggies fans.

James Morrison was a £1.5m bargain for West Brom

For just £1.5 million, James Morrison has gone down as one of West Brom's most 'value for money' signings ever, with the midfielder transforming himself into a hero at The Hawthorns.

He managed to win two promotions during his tenure, and became a consistently reliable option at Championship and Premier League level.

The legacy he has left of being a true leader will mean that West Brom will want to replicate a signing just like Morrison in the future.

For Middlesbrough, letting Morrison go was truly a tough pill to swallow.

However, the Baggies won’t be concerned whatsoever, as they reaped the rewards of his fine displays for over a decade. They not only received a player with an abundance of talent, but also a legend who showed loyalty and commitment in the Black Country during some really successful years.