The EFL star who left West Brom five years ago is now better than Jimmy-Jay Morgan

West Bromwich Albion went into the summer transfer window knowing they would have to invest in strengthening their attack.

The Baggies scored just 48 goals in 46 Championship games in the 2025/26 campaign, which is one of the reasons they finished 21st in the division.

James Morrison’s side narrowly avoided relegation to League One and failed to score in three of their final six games of the season, highlighting their lack of threat at the other end of the pitch.

The club needed an injection of quality in the final third to ensure they had enough strength to push for promotion to the Premier League next season.

They quickly sprang from the trap to bring in midfielder Barney Stewart on a permanent deal from Falkirk and Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Chelsea.

Where Jimmy-Jay Morgan can play for West Bromwich Albion

Morgan is an interesting signing for the Baggies because he brought him to the Premier League giants on a permanent basis, and there are several positions he can play.

Morrison has tended to use a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation after taking over from Eric Ramsay at The Hawthorns last term, but most promoted teams tend to play in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation to gain control of possession and control of the pitch.

With this in mind, the Scottish specialist may want to build in a 4-2-3-1 system instead of a 4-4-2 setup, which is why the Chelsea youngster could slot in as a number ten for the Baggies.

Morgan is capable of playing as a center forward or as a number ten, but the signing of Stewart and the presence of Aune Heggebo suggests that he will not be able to play many minutes as a number nine.

Therefore, the English ace, who scored 14 goals in 39 appearances on loan at Peterborough United last season, could be Morrison’s choice in the midfield in an attacking 4-2-3-1.

While the 20-year-old whiz looks like a promising talent who could be a key player for the Baggies, the club have yet to get over the fact that they have lost their best number ten in the last five years.

West Brom lost a better player than Jimmy-Jay Morgan for nothing

It remains to be seen how Morgan will adapt to the Championship after scoring 12 goals and providing three assists in 34 League One appearances in the 2025/26 campaign.

Meanwhile, the former West Brom academy talent produced the most goals for another club in the Championship last term, five years after leaving the club on a free.

Finn Azaz came through the Baggies’ academy program before leaving at the end of his contract to sign for Aston Villa on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.

After loan spells with Newport County and Plymouth, the Irishman joined Plymouth on a permanent deal from Villa and subsequently signed for Middlesbrough and Southampton in the Championship in recent years.

Saints paid £12m to sign Azaz from Boro in the summer transfer window last year after he netted 23 goals in the 2024/25 campaign in all competitions.

He followed that up with 11 goals, 15 ‘big chances’ created, and eight assists in the Championship in the 2025/26 season, demonstrating his consistent quality as a goalscorer and goal creator in attacking midfield.

Azaz is one of the best players in the second division at the moment, as he has now had many seasons of consistent performances in the final third, and is expected to be one of the best players in his position again next term.

The 25-year-old has produced more goals (19) in the Championship than Morgan has in League One (15), proving he is the best player yet.

So, it’s still a shame the Baggies couldn’t convince him to sign a new contract at The Hawthorns after he scored 16 goals and nine assists in 85 games for the U18s and U21s combined.

He chose to try his luck at Villa and was eventually sold to lower division Plymouth before moving back through Middlesbrough and Southampton, where he would have success in the Championship with West Brom.

Hopefully, Morgan will continue and improve during his time at West Brom and continue to be a better player than Azaz in the future, while the Irishman is on the sidelines for now.