Summertime has been unpredictable for Mikey Johnston.

The only near certainty was that he was leaving Celtic after 16 years with the club, marking the end of his boyhood association as he neared 25. His summer essentially began on May 17, following a brief chat with Carlos Corberan on the team bus after Albion’s playoff loss at St. Mary’s.

During his holiday, the winger kept in touch with close Albion teammates like John Swift, Alex Mowatt, Jayson Molumby, and Jed Wallace. He suspected that his departure from Celtic might drag out, and that turned out to be the case. Corberan revealed that Johnston had made his desire for a permanent move to West Brom clear after the playoff disappointment. However, the Republic of Ireland international recognized that an offer from Albion might be difficult to arrange, a sentiment shared by the coach.

Johnston recalled the pivotal moment on the bus when Corberan told him they would do everything possible to bring him back. “That made me feel wanted, and that’s all any player really wants,” Johnston said. While he initially saw it as a long shot, especially given financial fair play (FFP) constraints, he knew he was likely leaving Celtic. The club wanted him to stay until near the transfer deadline, giving West Brom a chance to match other offers.

When the options presented themselves, Johnston felt returning to West Brom was the clear choice. “I couldn’t not go back,” he admitted. Despite performing well in pre-season, Johnston didn’t feature in Celtic’s opening game, signaling his exit. His focus shifted to finding new opportunities to advance his career, which he believes he now has.

It wasn’t until late in August, after Albion raised funds through the sales of Conor Townsend, Okay Yokuslu, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and the windfall from Dara O’Shea’s transfer to Ipswich, that Albion’s £3 million offer became feasible. Though there was early interest from Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, the real competition came from abroad, with a La Liga club and Bundesliga teams expressing interest. Johnston, who had played in Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes, initially thought he’d be moving abroad again.

“When West Brom became an option, it was clear I’d be coming back,” Johnston said. He and Corberan had kept in contact, though neither initially thought it would be financially possible due to FFP regulations. However, Johnston speculated that O’Shea’s transfer provided the necessary funds. He gave West Brom every opportunity to make the deal happen, which is why it took so long to finalize.

Johnston confirmed that his strong relationship with Corberan was a key factor in his decision to return to West Brom instead of joining relegated Burnley, who had made a similar offer. “He’s the one who’s going to make me a better player,” Johnston said, acknowledging the coach’s knowledge and the support from fans and friends as other reasons behind his decision. Though it wasn’t an easy choice, he feels it was the right one.

His bond with Albion fans was immediate, especially after a six-goal streak during his loan spell. The chant “He’s electric, we’ve signed him on loan from Celtic…” to the tune of Oasis’s *She’s Electric* became a matchday anthem. As his four-year contract was confirmed in the same week that Oasis reunion tickets went on sale, Johnston joked about his desire to get one, though he hadn’t had any luck so far.

One thing Johnston has yet to finalize is his squad number. Though he wanted to keep the No. 23, which served him well last season, it’s now held by the team’s No. 2 goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith. He’ll likely choose between 22 and 32 instead.

When Johnston makes his second debut for Albion against Portsmouth next week, fans will see some changes. Along with his new blonde highlights, which John Swift inspired, he’ll be wearing a black face mask to protect a fractured eye socket. Though annoying, Johnston downplayed the mask’s impact, saying it wouldn’t be an issue.

Whether in a face mask or not, Albion supporters will have to update their song lyrics now that Johnston is back permanently. Nonetheless, he looks forward to hearing Oasis chants again. “It was tough leaving Celtic, but the love from the fans makes it easier,” he said, recalling the support he felt during a recent match against Swansea.