Luca Bombino is what Ryan Mason needs as West Brom bid for ‘very good’ USA ace

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If Ryan Mason plans to introduce a more stylish, attractive approach to West Brom – and it is believed he will, given time – then The Baggies’ interest in USA international Luca Bombino makes sense.

Reports emerged on Tuesday claiming that West Brom had seen a bid rejected by San Diego FC for one of the brightest young talents in Major League Soccer.

Now, despite a few impressive arrivals, the Baggies have a lot of work to do between now and the start of September.

Tottenham starlet Mikey Moore snubs a Ryan Mason reunion in favour of Scottish giants Rangers. And while Nat Phillips, George Campbell and particularly Aune Heggebo feel like potentially excellent additions – the supposedly Erling Haaland-esque Norwegian will shine in England, according to pundits in Scandinavia – West Brom still feel like a team short of depth in a few key areas.

Hence, their interest in Luca Bombino.

A teenage left-back who appears very well-suited to the more possession-based gameplan Mason is expected to roll out at the Hawthorns.

San Diego FC’s West Brom target Luca Bombino is ‘very good’ in possession

Still only 19 years of age, the California-born Bombino has played 20 games already during the 2025 MLS campaign. And, while technically owned by Los Angeles FC, the USA under-21 international has a purchase clause in his San Diego contract.

It is believed that, if San Diego are to turn that loan into a permanent deal before selling him on to West Brom, they would understandably look to make an immediate profit.

Tyler Heaps, San Diego’s 33-year-old sporting director, had an interview published by The Guardian shortly after the reports of West Brom’s offer emerged.

His assessment of Bombino, while brief, paints the picture of a young, technically-gifted, self-confident, ball-playing full-back who could be moulded by a coach willing to play to his strengths.

“We challenge our scouts not to watch exactly what the player is doing, but to try to find traits that exemplify what we want to do,” Heaps says, Bombino a perfect fit for a San Diego side with the second-highest possession average in the MLS at 60 per cent.

“Luca Bombino was not playing the way that we played [in Los Angeles FC’s B-team]. But we saw a player that was very good in terms of solving situations under pressure.”

Ryan Mason needs a left-back with USA starlet on the radar

Bombino averages 47 passes per game from left-back, completing 85 per cent of them. As Heaps alludes to, he has caught the eye too when keeping the ball against high-pressing teams and building from the back.

With Mason seemingly viewing Torbjorn Heggem as a centre-half, and with Callum Styles a midfielder by trade, there may be an opportunity for Bombino to establish himself as the most natural left-sided full-back in the Baggies squad if an agreement can be reached later in the window.

Bombino has provided two assists while scoring once himself in his last five MLS appearances for San Diego FC.

His first senior league goal was a well-taken volley with his favoured boot, while the width and the neat crosses he provides from the flank could also help Mason’s Albion outfit generate greater chances from the opposite flank to assist king Tom Fellows.

EFL Analysis can confirm that West Brom wanted ex-Hearts starlet James Penrice before he opted to join AEK Athens on a free transfer.