Conor returned to Albion for a second spell in July 2026 having effectively worked on his game and produced consistent performances during his previous stint in B71.

The defender was named as stand-in captain in the absence of Dara O'Shea during the 2022/23 season by then-boss Carlos Corberán. Conor led the Baggies for the first time v Rotherham in April 2023, and skippered his team-mates in their remaining seven matches.

Townsend has amassed over 200 appearances for Albion since joining the club in 2018. 

During his time at The Hawthorns, Conor has made the left-back role his own - netting his first Baggies goal against top-flight side West Ham United in January 2020 before fulfilling a lifelong ambition of competing in the Premier League after helping the club win automatic promotion at the end of the 2019/20 season.

Townsend's first season of top-flight football during the 2020/21 campaign saw him go up against some of the world's best forwards.

Having battled against stars such as Mohamed Salah, Marcus Rashford and Heung-Min Son, the Hessle-born defender proved his ability to cope with some of the game's elite attackers during his 25 PL appearances. 

Conor joined Albion from Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2018, having worked his way up the Football League ladder.

A hard-working left-back, Conor started his career at Hull City, joining the club when he was eight, but only managed a single League Cup appearance at the KC Stadium.

His maiden experience of first-team football was during the 2011/12 season when he went on loan to then National League side Grimsby Town. In total Conor played over 30 times for the Mariners and caught the eye as he was voted the club’s Young Player of the Year.

During his time with the Tigers he also had loan spells at Chesterfield, Carlisle United, Dundee United, Scunthorpe United and Grimsby again as he further expanded his football resume.

Townsend’s long association with Hull came to an end in January 2016 when he moved permanently to Scunthorpe, a team with which he had previously represented during a loan spell.

Conor made 73 appearances in total with the Sky Bet League One side, netting four goals as he helped the Iron to consecutive Play-Off campaigns in his final two seasons before switching to the Black Country. 

Following six years in the navy-blue-and-white of Albion, Conor spent two years in East Anglia with Ipswich Town and although injury hampered the full-back's time at Portman Road, he gained another opportunity at the club he made so many fond memories. 

Townsend will now hope to bounce back from a frustrating spell on the sidelines ahead of the 2026/27 campaign at the Baggies.