Overview

• Bartley announced his immediate retirement on August 8, 2025, after determining that persistent knee pain would prevent him from playing pain-free.
• The 34-year-old defender made 232 appearances over seven years at West Brom, becoming the club’s longest-serving senior player and featuring in their 2019–20 promotion to the Premier League.
• He underwent knee surgery in October 2024 and, despite traveling to Austria for pre-season, was unable to train due to ongoing discomfort.
• Sporting director Andrew Nestor publicly thanked Bartley for his leadership and contributions on and off the field throughout his 16-year professional career.
• His departure leaves Ryan Mason with Torbjorn Heggem, Nat Phillips, George Campbell and Caleb Taylor as senior centre-back options and has prompted interest in further defensive signings.