Under-the-Radar 009 - Harry Whitwell

Oxford born Harry Whitwell has been a Baggie since 2017. The twenty year old midfielder signed his first professional contract at the Hawthorns in 2022 and made his debut in January 2024 in a 4-1 FA Cup win against Aldershot.

A regular head-turner in the youth team with plenty of goals and assists, Whitwell has also shone in the England set up, representing the U16, U17 & U18’s at international level.

After making his league debut in May 2025 for WBA against Luton Town, it was agreed that Whitwell would join Forest Green Rovers of the National League on loan for the start of last season and after scoring on his debut, the player became an instant hit for Robbie Savage’s side putting in a number of cultured performances which had many staff, teammates and fans suggesting that this is a player that could go all the way to the very top.

Whitwell starred as FGR enjoyed a strong start to the 25/26 campaign as one of the promotion chasers and his 26 games and 3 goals in six months put him in good stead for a return to the Baggies in January, playing four matches under James Morrison towards the end of last season, before breaking through fully, following a good summer, which has since seen him become a regular first team starter.

Whitwell grabbed his first Baggies goal in a star performance during the clubs 4-1 win against Rotherham United in the EFL Cup a fortnight ago and since, Harry played 68 minutes in a 2-1 win against Norwich City before netting his first league goal in just his second league match this season on Sunday, in a 3-1 victory against Burnley at the Hawthorns.

Quick Stats:

• DOB: 16 November 2005 (Oxford)

• Height: 5ft11in (1.80m)

• Foot: R

• Position: Centre Midfield

• Club: West Bromwich Albion (since 2023)

• Previous: Forest Green Rovers (2025-26) loan

Attributes…

Lean, slim and leggy in looks, Whitwell is a delicately cultured footballer who oozes that bit of class in the midfield number eight position.

On the ball he’s a lovely inventive footballer who likes to tickle neat passes into the pathways of forwards to run onto, he has guile and invention and has quick feet to get out of tight spaces.

Out of possession, Whitwell works hard which fans and friends appreciate, foes less so, he’ll put a shift in when defending but in attack, he makes clever forward runs like an old fashioned style box-to-box midfielder might, think Bryan Robson of years gone by (especially when Robbo was a youngster at West Brom where there are comparables in the way Whitwell plays), swashbuckling with his well-timed movement to get involved and get on the end of attacking plays.

His most eye-catching attributes however are just how neat he always looks in possession, some just look better on the ball than others, with swagger and strut, not cocky, but confident and nurtured in the way he plays, everything is deliberate, everything done with purpose and intent, it always seems to look so good.

How Does He Fit In?

Playing more as an 8/10 at Forest Green Rovers last season (roles in which he also operated comfortably in the West Bromwich Albion youth team), Whitwell has appeared on the right side of midfield for his Manager James Morrison in the three games he’s played this campaign, as the Baggies toy between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 (which is more like 4-2-3-1 in possession with the wide men given license to come inside as a forward drops into midfield to help pick up the ball in deeper positions).

In the win against Burnley, Whitwell often floated in field to link up with midfielders Molumby and Diakate whilst right back Nolan Galves operated the space avoided wider on the overlap. This tactic was replicated on the other flank by another talented player in Isaac Price, who floats in off the left to join in more centrally, whilst Felix Myhre could link up in the ten role, against Norwich the week previously, Aune Heegebo played closer in attack to Jimmy-Jay Morgan as the front man where he could offer an alternative option for Whitwell and Price to link with when in advance positions.

Form & Future…

Whitwell has started the season in fabulous form and in simple terms, if he continues with that, his future will continue to look very bright.

Highly fancied right now by his West Bromwich Albion Manager James Morrison, who himself, a long term Baggie, knows the importance of what it means for the club to be bringing players through the system, expect a good season of continued Whitwell growth, plenty of game time, and plenty of eyes turned in the Championship. Statistically we’ll be hoping for double digit goals and assists, but in general all around play, you are likely to see some very honest work rate and a few subtle and neat touches that will at times, take the breath away. The link up with Isaac Price could be something to potentially behold.

A good year and the vultures will be hovering, a great year and it could even be one where Whitwell helps the Baggies towards promotion and the Premier League.

theHEADscout.

I’m a sports DATA Analyst and PFSA associate scout with level two qualifications in talent identification and level one certificates in technical scouting & opposition analysis.