Done deal: Key West Brom man completes shock Premier League move in £5m deal

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Alex Palmer has joined Premier League side Ipswich Town in a surprise deadline day deal, it has been confirmed.

The Baggies’ first-choice goalkeeper was the subject of a surprise bid from the Tractor Boys worth a reported £5m, and the player travelled to Portman Road on Monday to seal the deal before the winter transfer window closed. There have been disputes concerning the size of the fee, which is officially undisclosed, with other sources claiming that it could be as low as £2m.

The 28-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Ipswich and will compete for the gloves with Christian Walton and Aro Muric as the Premier League new boys battle to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. It is believed that Palmer will be the Suffolk side’s final deal of the transfer window.

The deal leaves West Brom heading into a potential promotion race without an established first-choice goalkeeper, although it is understood that the Baggies will recall 23-year-old Josh Griffiths from his loan spell at Bristol Rovers. Current back-up Joe Wildsmith, who was a summer signing from Derby County, is also an option.

Palmer departure leaves Mowbray with a headache

Palmer, a product of West Brom’s own youth academy, has made 102 senior appearances for the Baggies since establishing himself as first choice in the 2022/23 season, and has been among the club’s most consistent performers ever since.

He won the 2023/24 Championship golden glove after keeping 18 clean sheets in 46 matches and had once again been a key contributor as West Brom pushed for a play-off place. He had 18 months remaining on his contract at the Hawthorns, which may have factored in to the decision to sell him.

West Brom currently sit sixth in the Championship table, holding a play-off place on goal difference only, and now face what is likely to be a tense run-in without one of their most important players, while Ipswich have a chance to move beyond the goalkeeping errors which have blighted their first season back in the top flight.

Initial first choice Aro Muric made a number of high-profile howlers during the early weeks of the campaign and has since been replaced by former Brighton & Hove Albion shot stopper Christian Walton.

Palmer looks forward to ‘exciting’ move

Following confirmation of the deal, Palmer told Ipswich Town’s official club website that he was looking forward to the move, describing it as an “exciting time for me” while adding that “I am ready to embrace a new challenge.”

West Brom have, for their part, wished Palmer “all the best with his future career” as the home-grown goalkeeper steps up to the Premier League for the first time in his career.

The Baggies are expected to make further moves for the close of business on transfer deadline day, with young Danish striker Tammer Bany believed to be in the Midlands to complete a medical ahead of a £3.3m switch from Superliga side Randers.