Stoke City Plot Move For Josh Maja
Retold by Oddsrama · 15 July 2026
Josh Maja is back on the market after parting ways with West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City are making their move. The Nigerian striker, 27, failed to agree fresh terms with the Baggies and is now available as a free agent — a significant opportunity for clubs looking to add proven Championship firepower without a transfer fee.
Stoke manager Mark Robins has long been keen on Maja and sees him as a solution for the upcoming season. Interestingly, this isn't their first rodeo together: Maja spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Stoke from Bordeaux, though it wasn't a success — he managed just one goal in 15 league games. Still, Robins clearly believes a second spell could yield better results. The forward carries a current valuation of €4.5 million, modest for a striker with his pedigree.
Maja was a productive presence during his time at The Hawthorns, netting 19 goals in 81 appearances across all competitions since summer 2023. That goal tally alone shows why Stoke and others are circling. Watford and Bristol City are also monitoring his situation, so the Potters face competition if they want to move quickly. From a betting angle, Stoke's pursuit hints at ambitions for a serious promotion push — free or cheap signings of this calibre can shift market expectations around their title odds and season targets.
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