Former Lincoln City transfer target Barney Stewart has revealed he had his heart set on joining West Bromwich Albion long before completing his move to The Hawthorns.
The 22-year-old signed for the Baggies from Falkirk last month in a deal reported to be worth an initial £1.2 million, ending a transfer chase which had also included interest from the Imps.
Lincoln were linked with Stewart towards the end of last season, when it was claimed we had seen a bid of around £1 million rejected. Our interest was subsequently confirmed, although the striker’s valuation and the number of clubs pursuing him made a deal difficult.
Stewart has now explained that he became aware of West Brom’s interest as early as February or March. Despite Albion being involved in a Championship relegation battle at the time, he began following their results closely.
“I turned my app notifications on for the Albion as soon as I found out,” he said. “It was obviously a straightforward decision.”
The forward added that interest from other clubs did little to change his thinking once he knew West Brom wanted him.
“And then, to be honest, it was sort of just tunnel vision for me,” he said. “I know it’s easy to say while I’m here, but once my agent did tell me that Albion were in and any other clubs that were coming in, I was like, ‘alright, that’s nice to know.’
“It’s always nice to hear someone wants you, but I know where I want to go in the summer.”
That suggests Lincoln may always have faced a difficult task convincing Stewart to move to Sincil Bank, regardless of whether we were willing to meet Falkirk’s asking price.
West Brom eventually survived in the Championship, with Stewart admitting he had been closely watching their results during the final weeks of the campaign.
His rise has been rapid. He was previously part of the Queens Park Rangers youth setup before playing university football with Heriot-Watt University, where he scored more than 40 goals during the 2023/24 season.
That form earned him a move to Falkirk in 2024. He later spent time on loan with Dunfermline Athletic before returning to Falkirk and establishing himself in the Scottish Premiership.
Stewart finished last season with 18 goals across his spells with the two clubs and was named the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year. His performances also earned him recognition with Scotland Under-21s.
His profile appeared to fit the type of striker Lincoln were seeking. Standing 6ft 3in tall, Stewart combines physical strength and aerial ability with mobility, pressing and penalty-box movement.
However, his form ensured we were competing with several clubs capable of paying a significant transfer fee. West Brom ultimately won that race, handing him a four-year contract as they look to improve on last season’s narrow escape from relegation.
Stewart’s comments indicate that the Baggies were not merely the highest bidder. They were the club he had chosen once their interest became clear, leaving Lincoln and his other suitors with little chance of changing his mind.
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