The report says West Bromwich Albion identified Thomas-Asante after a fast start to the 2022-23 campaign, when he had reportedly scored five goals in his opening seven matches. Neville described the forward as “a different player” after pre-season, suggesting his development had reached a decisive stage.
A buy-out clause worth a few hundred thousand pounds was reportedly included in Thomas-Asante’s Salford contract. According to Neville’s account, West Brom manager Steve Bruce contacted him while he was on holiday in Greece to explain that the Championship club planned to trigger it.
The move offered Thomas-Asante a significant step up, while leaving Salford with limited control over the timing of his exit.
Neville’s strongest regret concerns what Salford might have achieved had the forward stayed. “If we'd have kept him I think we'd have gone up that year,” he said.
That remains an opinion rather than an established outcome, but it highlights the importance of a productive striker to a promotion push. Thomas-Asante’s emergence reportedly changed Salford’s attacking level quickly, and losing him during the season could have had an impact beyond the transfer fee itself.
For smaller clubs, release clauses can protect a player’s route to a higher level while also creating a difficult sporting compromise. Salford had helped Thomas-Asante rebuild his career after his release by MK Dons, but the structure of his contract meant the club could not simply decide to keep him.
The report traces Thomas-Asante’s progress from Salford to West Bromwich Albion, then on to Coventry City, where he reportedly helped the club secure Premier League promotion. His rise has strengthened Neville’s belief that the striker was capable of changing a team’s level.
Neville made his admiration clear, saying: “Oh Brandon, I love Brandon. He deserves it. He's good.” For Salford, the move remains both a success story in player development and a reminder of how quickly a club can lose a crucial asset.