Egypt defender Ahmed Hegazi is expected to play in the English Championship next season with his current team West Bromwich as his release clause deadline expired, according to a report from the Express and Star.

The 27-year old towering defender joined the then Premier League side West Bromwich in the summer of 2017, becoming one of their few shining points in a poor season which they ended by heading south to the Championship.

The Egyptian international had a £10m relegation-release clause in his contract.

ESPN reported earlier this week that Premier league teams Newcastle United and Brighton were interested in signing Hegazi back to the Premier League, especially that £10m seemed like a very reasonable sum for an international defender with good Premier League experience.

But, according to the report, the expiration of the release clause deadline put West Brom in command of the future of their defender, hoping to keep him in their bid for a qualification to the top flight again.

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