West Brom to receive only £900,000 for Nathan Ferguson

The sum, decided by a tribunal, is a significantly lower sum than what the Baggies expected to pocket following the right-back’s departure from The Hawthorns in July 2020.

Ferguson left on a free transfer just six months after Albion had agreed to sell him to Palace for a deal worth £11million.

Though the deal broke down after the defender failed his medical due to a knee problem and he subsequently left for nothing, the Baggies reasonably expected to receive significant compensation for the England youth international, who had been on their books since the age of eight.

But the tribunal decided differently, with news of their ruling emerging just hours before last night’s 1-0 win at home to Hull. Albion have no right of appeal.

Ferguson had been on Albion’s and was handed his first-team debut by then boss Slaven Bilic in 2019.

The Baggies agreed to sell him to Palace after talks over a new deal broke down and were always confident of bringing in a fee of between £5million and £10million at tribunal, turning down offers from the Premier League club to resolve the issue before it went before the independent panel. This judgement, therefore, will be seen as a huge coup in south London.

Football tribunals consist of four or five people within football who have legal experience and backgrounds in handling contracts and transfers. The Premier League, Championship and League Managers’ Association each appoint a representative.

Ferguson is yet to play for Palace with the knee injury eventually keeping him out until the end of last season. He then suffered a torn Achilles tendon in May and has only recently returned to light training.