West Brom is set to appoint Minnesota United’s Eric Ramsay the club’s next head coach, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic, which leaves the MLS side looking for a new manager as preseason preparations are about to begin_._ Ramsay, 34, excelled in his time in MLS and was always expected to land back in Europe sooner rather than later. He’ll take over a West Brom side that currently sits 18th in the EFL Championship with 31 points from 26 matches, seven points above the relegation zone. Andy Greder of Pioneer Press first reported the news.

Cam Knowles is the front runner to be named Minnesota United’s next head coach, sources briefed on the situation add. He previously served as interim head coach before Ramsay joined the club and then was an assistant on Ramsay’s staff.

Nothing is done yet, but Minnesota opens 2026 preseason in a few days and the club wants a head coach in place by the start of preseason. Knowles would bring continuity within a successful group, and a promotion would signify a reward for a highly valued coach in the organization.

Knowles was previously head coach of Minnesota’s second team and has long been around MLS. He played in the league from 2005-11 and then joined the Portland Timbers coaching staff in 2012. He was part of the Timbers staff when they won MLS Cup in 2015 and joined Minnesota as second team head coach in 2021.

Ramsay, meanwhile, left his role at an assistant at Manchester United to join Minnesota in 2024. His two years in MLS were successful, especially 2025. He led Minnesota to the semifinals of Western Conference playoffs and the U.S. Open Cup despite Minnesota being among the lower spending teams in MLS. The club did lose significant players this offseason, which includes MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair signing with Inter Miami and Finnish midfielder Robin Lod departing for Chicago.

Ramsay took the path less traveled to start his head coaching career in America after turning down approaches from English clubs. The Welshman has worked under several managers at Manchester United, staying on through different regimes and rising at the club. Ramsay joined as a player development and set-piece coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He remained under Ralf Rangnick and grew in importance on Erik ten Hag’s staff after the Dutchman was appointed manager ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Ramsay was also an assistant coach for the Wales national team for six months in addition to his duties with United, before stepping away last fall. When he was announced, Wales manager Rob Page called Ramsay “arguably one of the best young coaches in football at this moment in time.”He previously worked as an under-23 assistant coach at Chelsea and speaks fluent Spanish.

Gregg Evans contributed reporting to this story