The inside track on Mikey Johnston’s transfer to West Brom and how he left it at Celtic but doubtful….
West Brom signed Mikey Johnston for £3m from Celtic just before the transfer deadline passed at the end of last summer
Mikey Johnston knew his time at Celtic was up when he didn’t get on the pitch at any stage during their opening day thrashing of Kilmarnock at Parkhead – and in that moment his departure and return to England, and to West Bromwich Albion, accelerated.
Johnston lit up The Hawthorns on many occasions during his loan spell in the second half of last season; his seven goals included one 30 seconds into his full debut against Cardiff City and a pearler against Coventry City, let alone the strikes at Queens Park Rangers and Plymouth and the brace at Huddersfield Town.
Financially, it understandably didn’t look likely on the surface as though a return this summer was feasible. Winger Johnston knew, as he sat on the bench and watched on as Brendan Rodgers’ side tore through Killie last month, despite having been prominent in pre-season, that he’d have to move on and leave his boyhood club for the sake of his career.
“I think it was obvious to be honest,” he admitted. “I did well in pre-season and then the first game came, and I didn’t play a minute. I thought the writing was on the wall. I don’t think much has to be said after that. At that point it was about finding my options and try and go and make big career. I feel like I have a chance to make a big career for myself, that’s what I want to do.”
Albion, for much of the summer, simply weren’t in a position to even entertain the idea of sanctioning Johnston’s return, even though it was abundantly clear that Carlos Corberan remained a keen admirer and had been in contact with Johnston. It was a balancing act; clearly, because of the winger’s exploits last season, Albion wouldn’t be the only contender.
Sheffield United and Burnley, with bigger budgets and parachute payments, came sniffing. Indeed more than that, even in late August Johnston knew there was a real possibility that Bramall Lane would be his new home but, as he said himself: he held out for as long as possible as he wanted to give Albion every chance.
Things changed as August progressed. Albion banked a few quid from Dara O’Shea leaving, ironically, Burnley. The hard work they’d put in throughout the summer had left them in a position where they could throw their hat in the ring and look to satisfy Corberan by claiming his desired asset. For Albion to enter the running was all Johnston needed.
“I thought it was kind of an outside chance, to be honest. You hear all things about FFP or whatever, I don’t know the ins and outs, it was the summer and I knew I was probably leaving Celtic,” he explained.
