West Brom announce reduced losses of £17m

It's been an extremely difficult season for the Baggies on the field, but these figures should be seen as a huge boost off it.

Albion have had to tread an incredibly fine and precarious line in recent years thanks to the mismanagement of the club's finances under the disastrous reign of absent owner Guochan Lai.

Shilen Patel may also be primarily based abroad but the American businessman's presence is far from anonymous when it comes to the club's accounts.

Since his company, Bilkul Football WBA, took over the club in February 2024, he has invested £31.5m up to the end of June 2025.

This has largely been to cover losses, as well as debts inherited from the previous regime, including loans from American financiers MSD Holdings.

One for £20m was taken out in December 2022, with the club's stadium and training ground used as leverage, while another was taken out three months before Patel's arrival.

It is understood there is a remaining balance of £25.7m left to pay to MSD, which will finally be settled by December this year.

Having to sell a host of players over the past couple of years has inevitably left the squad weaker, but they are also younger, fresher, and, most importantly, the era of irresponsible signings on bloated wages should now be a thing of the past.

The club has had to learn a harsh lesson of living within its means, particularly without parachute payments since 2023.

However, tackling their financial issues has got Albion to a point where they will have some wiggle room to improve the squad this summer.

Their finances will still be judged by the three-year rolling period of P&S for 2025-26, but regardless of what division they find themselves in, Albion are believed to be comfortable in the knowledge that arguably the darkest period in their history is in the rear view mirror.

There can be plenty of questions asked about the footballing decisions taken by Bilkul that could have a detrimental impact in the short term, but the financial choices they have made may well have saved the club from a much bleaker long-term future.