English Football League Championship side West Bromwich Albion have announced the signing of former Bordeaux striker Josh Maja on a three-year deal.

The one-capped Super Eagles striker had been on the radar of Scottish Premier League giants Glasgow Rangers as well as some other Premier League teams but opted to join the Albion as he hopes to help them return to the English Premier League. 

The 24-year-old, scored 16 goals and six assists last season for Bordeaux in Ligue 2 but his effort was a little short of returning the club to the top flight, an experience he will be hoping to avoid Hawthorns.

Aside from his experience in France, the former Sunderland academy had previously had loan spells at Premier League side Fulham in 2021 and another loan spell with Stoke City in the Championship in 2022 before returning to south-west France last term. 

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Reacting to the signing of the Nigeria international, a delighted West Bromwich manager, Carlos Corberán, said the team will bank on Maja’s experience in the coming season as they hope to make their way back to the top flight after their relegation in 2020. 

“I am happy to have Josh here at the club. It was an important aim of ours to reinforce this position during the summer. We have done so with a player who has a big desire to succeed,” Corberán told the club website.

“Josh has international and Premier League experience and his skills complement Brandon Thomas-Asante in a way that means they can play together or on their own. He drops deep to build attacks and also has good instincts in the box.

“Josh has been working hard while he has been a free agent this summer but will still need some time with our staff to make sure he is ready to face the challenge of games. We will work with him to manage this process.”