Karlan Grant has officially ended his six-year spell at West Bromwich Albion after completing a free transfer back to Charlton Athletic, bringing an eventful chapter of his career at The Hawthorns to a close.
The 28-year-old forward originally joined the Baggies in the summer of 2020 from Huddersfield Town in a deal reportedly worth £15 million. After spending six seasons with the Midlands club, Grant has now returned to Charlton Athletic, the club where he developed through the academy ranks and first established himself as a professional footballer before earning his move away.
Grant’s time at West Brom was one of mixed fortunes. Throughout his lengthy stay, he experienced periods where he was an important member of the first team, as well as spells where he struggled to secure regular playing time and found himself on the fringes of the squad. His inconsistency in the pecking order made him a divisive figure among supporters, with opinions on his contribution often split.
The standout moment of Grant’s West Brom career came during the 2021-22 season. After Albion were relegated from the Premier League, the forward enjoyed an impressive return to Championship football, scoring 18 league goals to finish as the club’s leading scorer for the campaign. That season remains the high point of his spell at The Hawthorns and demonstrated the attacking quality that convinced West Brom to invest heavily in him.
Following confirmation of his move back to Charlton Athletic, Grant shared an emotional farewell message with West Brom supporters and his former teammates through Instagram. Reflecting on his six years at the club, he acknowledged that the journey had included both memorable highs and difficult lows, but emphasized that he remained thankful for every experience and proud to have represented the Baggies.
In his message, Grant wrote that after six years the time had come to say goodbye to West Bromwich Albion. He expressed his gratitude for every moment spent at the club and said the memories, experiences, and relationships he built during his stay would remain with him for the rest of his life. He also paid special tribute to the supporters, thanking them for their unwavering passion and backing throughout his time at The Hawthorns. Grant concluded by wishing everyone connected with the club success in the future before signing off with a heartfelt “Thank you, Baggies.”
The farewell message quickly attracted responses from several current and former West Brom players, many of whom took the opportunity to wish Grant well as he embarks on the next stage of his career.
Among those leaving messages were Alex Mowatt and Isaac Price. Mowatt, who arrived at West Brom during Grant’s second season at the club, shared a similar journey during his own Albion career. Both players experienced periods where they fell out of favour and spent time away on loan, with Grant joining Cardiff City temporarily while Mowatt enjoyed a spell at Middlesbrough. Having spent several years together at West Brom, Mowatt commented on Grant’s post, writing: “What a guy, all the best brother.”
Northern Ireland international Isaac Price also offered his support. Having played alongside Grant on numerous occasions, the pair developed a strong understanding on the pitch, often linking up effectively in attacking areas. Price responded with a simple but heartfelt message, writing: “All the best brother ❤️.”
Several other current and former Baggies players also reacted to Grant’s departure, including Daryl Dike, Jamal Jimoh-Aloba, Darnell Furlong, and current midfielder Ousmane Diakite, all sending messages of encouragement and wishing him success at Charlton Athletic.
While many supporters will have mixed emotions about Grant’s departure, there is a growing feeling that the timing is appropriate for both player and club. Although he enjoyed an excellent goalscoring campaign in 2021-22, Grant was unable to replicate that level of productivity over the following four seasons. He failed to reach double figures for goals again and increasingly came under criticism from sections of the fanbase, particularly regarding his consistency and overall work rate.
His performances did improve after returning from his loan spell at Cardiff City during Carlos Corberán’s tenure, but following the Spaniard’s departure, Grant struggled to maintain that momentum. Ultimately, his displays were not convincing enough to earn a new contract, paving the way for his exit on a free transfer.
With Grant now gone, West Brom face an important task in the transfer market as they look to strengthen their attacking options. New manager James Morrison has already acknowledged that adding more wide players is a priority ahead of the new season.
At present, Albion have only one natural winger available in Mikey Johnston, who is still recovering from the ankle fracture he suffered towards the end of last season. Although Isaac Price is capable of operating on the wing, he is considered more effective in a central midfield role.
If Morrison intends to continue using the 4-4-2 system that produced encouraging performances during his spell as interim manager, West Brom will need to recruit dynamic wide players capable of providing pace, creativity, and quality service into the penalty area. Bringing in wingers with the ability to stretch defences and create chances will be crucial if Albion are to mount a serious challenge for promotion back to the Premier League.
With just over three weeks remaining before West Brom begin their competitive campaign against Rotherham United in the Carabao Cup, the club will need to accelerate its transfer activity. Despite an encouraging start to the summer recruitment drive, speculation surrounding new arrivals has slowed considerably, increasing the urgency for the Baggies to address their lack of options in wide positions before the new season gets underway.
