Devante Cole has joined the Baggies on a two-year deal following a successful season in Sky Bet League One with Barnsley.
The son of former Manchester United and England forward, Andy Cole, scored 18 goals for the Tykes in the third tier last term and will be hoping to hit the ground running in the Sky Bet Championship following his summer switch.
Born in May 1995, Devante joined Manchester City at the age of seven despite previously training with rivals United. He rose up through the ranks in the Cityzens’ academy and travelled to South Africa for a pre-season tour with the senior side in July 2013.
Having scored plenty of goals at youth level, he experienced competitive senior football for the first time while on loan at Barnsley, coming off the bench in a 2-2 draw at Coventry in League One in August 2014 as a 19-year-old.
He scored seven goals in 23 appearances for the Oakwell outfit during the first half of the 2014/15 term, before adding a further three goals in the second half of it for MK Dons after agreeing another loan deal.
He left Man City in the summer of 2015 and joined Bradford City on a two-year deal. He scored six times for the Bantams in the first half of the 2015/16 campaign, but was on the move again in January, signing for then League One rivals Fleetwood Town for an undisclosed fee.
Devante notched 22 goals in all competitions in two years with the Cod Army, eventually departing for Wigan Athletic in January 2018 – the side who were leading the way in the third tier at the time.
However, opportunities to showcase his ability at the DW Stadium were at a premium and he made the switch to Burton Albion on loan ahead of the start of the 2018/19 season.
Scottish Premier League side Motherwell came calling at the start of the following year, signing Cole on loan. One of his strikes for the Steelmen came against Rangers at Ibrox.
Following the end of his loan, Devante left Wigan and agreed a deal with Doncaster Rovers until the end of the 2019/20 term.
He rejoined Motherwell on a permanent deal in October 2020 and enjoyed a successful year, scoring 12 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions.
Barnsley, the club he made his senior debut for, showed interest once again in the summer of 2021 and he penned a three-year contract at Oakwell.
During his three years at the club, he bagged 36 goals in just under 130 games.
Devante scored goals for England’s U16, U17, U18 and U19 teams as a youngster and was called up to the senior Jamaica squad for the first time in November 2023, but is yet to make his international debut.
He arrives at The Hawthorns on the back of his best season in front of goal and will want to replicate his 2023/24 exploits in his new colours.
