West Brom complete €1.5m deal for French-Congolese centre-back Brayann Pereira

French-Congolese defender Brayann Pereira has joined West Brom from NEC Nijmegen for €1.5m, becoming a Championship player after starting the 2026-27 campaign in the Netherlands.

The 23-year-old centre-back has signed a contract with West Bromwich Albion running until 30 June 2030. Pereira’s move was completed on 1 September, bringing an end to his two-year spell with NEC.

Pereira had already featured seven times for the Dutch club this season before switching to England. He played in three Eredivisie matches and appeared in all four of NEC’s Champions League qualifying fixtures, registering no goals or assists. He received one yellow card in the league and two during the European qualifiers.

His arrival gives West Brom a right-footed central defender with experience of both domestic competition and European qualification. Pereira is listed at 1.76m and has represented both France and Congo as nationalities.

Pereira joined NEC from AJ Auxerre in July 2024 after spending the previous season on loan at the Nijmegen club. He made the move to NEC after Auxerre had brought him in from RC Lens B on a free transfer in July 2022.

The defender began his development at Lens, progressing through the club’s youth teams before stepping up to the reserve side. His senior career also included a loan spell with Bourg-en-Bresse during the 2022-23 season.

Pereira now moves into the English game with West Brom, whose club record lists his new deal through the end of June 2030. The transfer from NEC Nijmegen has been completed for €1.5m.