Northern Ireland defender Paddy McNair has joined West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of December after securing a three-year deal with MLS side San Diego FC.
The 29-year-old, who was a free agent after being released by Middlesbrough at the end of last season, will stay at the Hawthorns until the New Year before linking up with the American outfit for the 2025 MLS campaign which kicks off in February.
“Joining San Diego FC is an exciting new chapter in my career,” declared the former Manchester United player. “When I first heard of San Diego, I had this gut feeling of excitement to play outside of England and have a chance to play in MLS.
“It’s going to be very special to be a part of history. I look forward to bringing my experience to the team and building a team San Diego can be proud of.”
Before embarking on his American adventure with a team that has just secured an MLS franchise, McNair will be concentrating on helping the Baggies get off to a good start in their Championship campaign, which begins with a trip to QPR on 10th August.
We're delighted to announce the signing of Paddy McNair on loan! 🤝
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) July 25, 2024
Welcome to the Albion, Paddy! 👊
“West Bromwich Albion are a very good club and one I’ve always admired,” he told the club website. “I know a lot of lads who have played here in the past and they’ve all said good things about it.
“I’m really happy to be here. I’ve played in the Championship for the last seven years so I’ve got a lot of experience in this division.”
Baggies head coach Carlos Corberán was also delighted to have secured the services of the versatile Ballyclare man.
“We’re very pleased to have signed Paddy and we welcome him to our club. He is a player who has a lot of experience in this league with Sunderland and Middlesbrough," he said.
And he added: “He’s played just under 350 career matches and he’ll add a lot of maturity and quality to our squad.
“He is capable of playing in a number of different positions which will be really helpful for us and really important in a league as demanding as the Championship.”
