Nigeria international Semi Ajayi has officially been released by West Bromwich Albion, bringing an end to a six-year stay at The Hawthorns. The club confirmed his departure on Tuesday with the publication of their retained and released players list following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.
Ajayi, 31, will leave when his contract expires at the end of June. He joined West Brom from Rotherham United in the summer of 2019 and quickly became a key figure, helping the club gain promotion to the Premier League in his debut campaign.bit.ly
In total, he made 177 appearances for the Baggies, starting 147 matches and scoring 13 goals including memorable strikes in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool, and a winner against Peterborough United in the Championship in 2021.
Injuries, however, plagued his final season, with a hamstring issue sidelining him since October 2024. He featured just 15 times in the Championship during the 2024/25 campaign.bet9ja.com
Ajayi was also part of the Super Eagles squad that finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Editorial
In football, few things are as emotional as a long-serving player parting ways with a club that once felt like home.bet9ja.com Semi Ajayi’s departure from West Bromwich Albion marks more than the end of a contract it’s the closing of a defining chapter in a career that blossomed at The Hawthorns.
We see this not as a farewell filled with regret, but as a celebration of legacy. Ajayi joined West Brom with ambition and grit and delivered both. His contributions during their promotion run, the commanding presence in defence, and goals that inspired fans — all form the mosaic of a player who gave everything.
Injuries may have dimmed his final days at the club, but they do not tarnish his legacy. Instead, they remind us of the fragility of this game and the resilience required to remain a professional for so long at a competitive level.bet9ja.com
What stands out most is Ajayi’s consistency and professionalism. In an era when loyalty feels fleeting, his six years in the West Midlands are a testament to his character.bet9ja.com Whether he lands in another Championship side, ventures abroad, or takes on a new role within the sport, we believe he still has plenty to offer.bet9ja.com
Let’s not only wish him well let’s remember him as a player who helped West Brom rise when it mattered most.
Did You Know?
Semi Ajayi began his professional career at Charlton Athletic but never made a senior appearance before moving to Arsenal’s youth system.
His father is of Nigerian descent while his mother is English, making him eligible to represent both nations at international level he chose Nigeria.
Ajayi made his Super Eagles debut in 2018 and has earned over 30 caps since.
During the 2020/21 Premier League season, he was West Brom’s top-scoring defender.
The Baggies' 2020 promotion was Ajayi’s second from the Championship, having also been part of Rotherham United’s rise to the second tier in 2018.