Josh Maja: Valencia linked with move for West Brom and Nigeria striker

Josh Maja, the Nigeria and England-eligible centre-forward currently at West Brom, is being linked with a summer move to LaLiga side Valencia as the Spanish club explore options to bolster their attack.

Valencia are understood to be monitoring the 27-year-old, whose market value is listed at around €4.5 million, after tracking his performances in the Championship. Maja, who wears the No 9 shirt at The Hawthorns, has accumulated more than 100 Championship appearances, scoring 19 goals and adding six assists in the division.

The forward joined West Brom in August 2023 after leaving French club Bordeaux on a free transfer and has since established himself in the Baggies’ attacking rotation. His profile, combining extensive experience in English football with spells in France’s top two tiers, is thought to appeal to Valencia as they weigh up a relatively affordable centre-forward option from abroad.

Maja’s most prolific league season to date came in League One, where he scored 15 goals in 24 appearances earlier in his career, a run that first brought him to wider attention and eventually earned him a move to Bordeaux. Across his time in France’s top flight he has also produced a steady return, with nine goals in 47 Ligue 1 outings.

Born in London in December 1998 and eligible for both Nigeria and England, Maja’s contractual details at West Brom have not been made public, leaving uncertainty over the size of fee that might be required should Valencia decide to firm up their interest.