West Brom close in on Brayann Pereira deal from NEC Nijmegen

West Brom are closing in on the signing of Brayann Pereira from NEC Nijmegen, with the Championship club moving to strengthen at right-back on deadline day.

The transfer has not yet been officially announced, but The72, citing Voetbal International, reports that Pereira is travelling to England for a medical ahead of a permanent move. The proposed fee is around €1.5m, or £1.28m, after NEC decided to allow the French defender to leave.

That keeps the deal advanced rather than complete. West Brom have moved into position to sign Pereira, but the medical, paperwork and club announcement still need to be completed before the transfer can be treated as official.

For West Brom, the move addresses a specific squad need. Albion have been looking to add another right-sided defensive option, and Pereira offers a player with regular Eredivisie experience rather than a longer-term academy project.

Pereira, 23, joined NEC from Auxerre in 2023, initially on loan before the Dutch club made the move permanent. He had a contract in Nijmegen until 2027, but with only one year left on that deal, NEC’s decision to sell now carries a clear financial logic.

The defender has remained involved this season, including in NEC’s European qualifiers, but competition in the squad has increased and a move to England gives him a clearer new challenge. Reports in the Netherlands say Pereira and his representatives pushed for the transfer after previous interest had not led to a move.

For West Brom, the attraction is a relatively low-cost signing with first-team minutes already behind him. Pereira’s pace and ability to play on the right side should give Albion more defensive cover and a different option in possession.

The next step is formal completion. Until West Brom and NEC confirm the agreement, Pereira’s move should remain classified as advanced, with the medical process now the decisive stage.