Steve Bruce confirms first West Brom signing of the summer as deal already 'done'

A permanent deal to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby is "done" West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce has confirmed.

The 22-year-old has spent the season on loan from the Premier League outfit at The Hawthorns after being brought in late last summer by former head coach Valérien Ismaël. Molumby had previously had Championship loan spells with Millwall and Preston North End.

Saturday's 0-0 draw with Coventry City was the Republic of Ireland international's 29th league appearance of the season for Albion. The central midfielder has a single goal so far after netting the opener in an eventual 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

"Molumby's done," Bruce revealed when asked about the player's future after the stalemate. "Molumby was done weeks ago. The deal was kicked in weeks ago, so he's our player now.

"He's a young player who's got a lot to learn still, but he wants to win; he's got a bit of an attitude with him, which I like, so, yeah, he''ll be here next year."

Despite not turning 23-years-old until the first week of August, Molumby is already a vastly experienced Championship midfielder, having made 80 appearances across the last three seasons. The player also has a sole Premier League outing too, featuring for the dying seconds against Aston Villa at Villa Park in late November 2020.

Whether fellow Brighton loanee Matt Clarke will join Molumby in resigning for next season is less certain. The 25-year-old centre-back has made 32 appearances and has played the full 90 minutes in each of Albion's last 10 outings dating back to the start of March.

This, like the defender's younger teammate, is Clarke's third straight season out on loan. The former Ipswich Town and Portsmouth