Toby Collyer arrives hungry to impress after returning to The Hawthorns in a permanent move from Manchester United.
The 22-year-old central midfielder joins fresh and with a pre-season under his belt following a summer that saw him get minutes against Wrexham, Rosenborg and Leeds for Michael Carrick’s first-team, alongside also playing in the Red Devils’ under-21s.
A strong build-up to the current campaign comes after a 2025/26 term where Toby featured on loan at both the Baggies and Hull City.
Worthing-born Collyer 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’s under-21s, featuring against Tottenham Hotspur.
His performances within Brighton’s younger groups 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 penned 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.
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 versus 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).
Although there was no silverware in Seville, that heartbreak was behind him when the Baggies came calling. Collyer’s first spell at The Hawthorns included 12 appearances in blue and white between August and January.
United recalled him midway through the term but, soon enough, he found himself making a temporary switch to eventual play-off winners Hull City, where he played five times during the second half of their successful season.
Now, he returns to Albion permanently. His contract commits him to the club until 2030, with the Baggies and Toby hopeful this move will help him showcase his undoubted talent.
