Toby Collyer will be hoping to earn regular first-team football at The Hawthorns having made the switch from Manchester United on a season-long loan.
The exciting 21-year-old midfielder gives boss Ryan Mason another option in central areas and arrives in the West Midlands after enjoying a breakthrough term at Old Trafford in 2024/25.
Collyer was born in Worthing and played locally as a youngster before signing for Brighton and Hove Albion at U12 level. By the age of 15 he was making appearances in the Seagulls’ U18 team, going on to help them win the Premier League U17 Cup in 2020/21. Not long after his 17th birthday, Toby represented the club at U21 level, featuring against Tottenham Hotspur.
His performances for Brighton attracted interest from the biggest clubs in the country and Collyer decided a move to Manchester United was the best step for his development in March 2022. He’d sign a three-and-a-half year deal.
Toby became a regular in the Red Devils’ PL2 team in the 2022/23 term and featured in United’s EFL Trophy fixtures against Barrow, Fleetwood and Bolton Wanderers.
The youngster’s displays earned him opportunities to impress in first-team pre-season friendlies during the summer of 2023. He started as Manchester United took on Wrexham in the United States of America in late July, before going on to develop further in the PL2 side across the course of that year.
His competitive debut wasn’t too far away. He was introduced to the action on the hour mark of United’s Community Shield clash with rivals Manchester City at Wembley in August 2024. After a 1-1 draw, City claimed a 7-6 win on penalties, but it will be a day Toby will never forget.
Three weeks later, he was making his Premier League debut at Old Trafford in one of the biggest fixtures in English football. Collyer came on at the start of the second period against Liverpool, replacing Brazil legend Casemiro in the middle of midfield. Sadly for Albion’s new man, United went on to lose 3-0 that day.
His first start for the club came a further two weeks later – playing the full 90 as United battered Barnsley 7-0 in front of their own supporters in the Carabao Cup.
More senior matches came last season, with Toby coming up against Southampton, his old club Brighton, Fulham, Arsenal and Leicester in the top flight.
There was also European exposure too. Collyer helped Manchester United reach the final of the UEFA Europa League, featuring against Rangers, FCSB and Real Sociedad twice. He was an unused sub in the final in Seville, with Ryan Mason watching on from the opposite dugout as Spurs claimed a 1-0 triumph.
Now together, Collyer will be determined to showcase his capabilities, improve every aspect of his game and force his way into Mason’s XI at the Albion.
