West Brom owner in place for return to The Hawthorns after transfer deadline

Albion owner and chairman Shilen Patel will take in his first fixture of the new campaign on Wednesday evening.

The Baggies welcome Charlton Athletic to The Hawthorns for a fourth league clash of the season and second in front of their own supporters. Charlton have started the campaign with three wins from three.

Florida-based Patel has regularly attended Baggies games since his group Bilkul Football WBA purchased a controlling stake in the club in February 2024.

Patel will see a new-look Albion squad under boss James Morrison after Tuesday’s transfer deadline. Ten new senior signings were completed during the summer transfer window, with an outlay of around £15million.

It is the owner’s first fixture of the new season after three Championship fixtures and two ties in the EFL Cup, a victory at Rotherham and defeat at Newcastle.

The businessman and philanthropist's presence at fixtures remains a direct contrast to the previous ownership of Guochuan Lai, who went several years at the tail-end of his tenure without visiting The Hawthorns.

Patel has been joined by Bilkul partners, his cousin and chief marketing officer Ashish Patel, and fellow director Ethan Gobetz at games since the group purchased the club.

Senior director of football finance Gobetz in particular is a regular presence at fixtures.

Andrew Nestor was also part of the Bilkul board following the club’s takeover and attended games until his final months at the club, which ended at the beginning of 2026 following a conflict in strategic opinion.

Executive director Mark Miles, who returned to the club following Nestor’s exit, is based in the Midlands and a regular presence. Non-executive director Jason Roberts, the former Baggies striker, makes up the board and has attended games from his overseas base.

Morrison’s side have won two of their opening three league clashes this season, with a first defeat in last Saturday’s clash at Middlesbrough.