Andreas Weimann makes the move to The Hawthorns looking to help Albion’s push for a top-six place this season.
An Austrian international, Andreas - commonly known as ‘Andi’ - is no stranger to the Midlands having featured for Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County during the early stages of his career in England.
Now, the forward is all set to feature for his fourth team in this part of the country with the hope of building important momentum for the Baggies in 2024.
Weimann grew up in Austria’s capital city, Vienna, prior to making the jump up to a professional environment with the biggest side in the area, SK Rapid Wien, at the age of 13.
But the striker’s potential in the game was realised from hopeful eyes overseas and thus, at 16-years-old, Andi took on the challenge of moving from home and beginning a new adventure in England with Aston Villa.
His footballing education continued in the Villan’s youth system and positives strides in his development led to a Premier League debut in August 2010.
Less than a week later, the then 19-year-old was thrust into European football on his return to Wien. A late substitute appearance at the Allianz Stadion saw him make a maiden showing in the Europa League qualifying stages.
Unfortunately, Andi suffered an injury in the same match - prompting a period on the sidelines and, once fully recovered, the first of two loans spell in England’s second tier with Watford in 2011.
Weimann returned to Villa Park with a point to prove in the attacking third, and improvements showed in the 2012-13 season when the Austrian bagged 18 direct goal involvements in 38 matches.
Having amassed over 100 Premier League appearances and netting 17 times, Andi moved across the Midlands to help Derby’s promotion bid in 2015 as part of a permanent transfer.
The Rams sealed a play-off spot during his first campaign and, following a spell on loan at Wolves during the second half of the 2016/17 season - which included a winning goal in an FA Cup win over Liverpool at Anfield - Weimann returned to feature in the promotion race again as Derby finished sixth in 2018.
Three years in County’s ranks came to an end when Andi penned terms with Bristol City in the summer of 2018, and the striker would lay the foundations for the best scoring form of his career in the West Country.
The Wien academy graduate started his maiden campaign at Ashton Gate brightly, bagging double figures in a league season for the first time in his senior career and after racking up 15 goal contributions, Weimann surpassed those numbers the following term (nine goals, seven assists).
Playing with confidence and clearly enjoying his football, numbers continued to increase and over the 2021/22 campaign, Andi blew away his previous bests by recording 32 goal involvements (22 goals, 10 assists) in the Championship.
On the international stage, the attacker was called up for his first senior outing against Kazakhstan in October 2012.
With 15 caps to his name, Weimann had to wait just under seven years for his next call-up to the senior side but it was worth the wait, with the talisman firing in a very special first international goal against France in the UEFA Nations League in June 2022.
Andi became City’s skipper in February 2023 and his experience and leadership qualities will be welcome qualities in the Albion dressing room, as the striker looks to help fulfil the club’s targets in 2024.
