Minteh: We want to go one step further next season

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Winger disappointed not to hit personal target, but pleased with season overall.

Nick Szczepanik

2025-05-30T06:00+01:00

Yankuba Minteh joined Albion at the beginning of the 2024/25 season from Newcastle United. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Yankuba Minteh is happy with his first season in the Premier League even though he did not hit his personal target of ten goals.

The Gambia winger scored six times in the Premier League as well as netting against his former club, Newcastle United, in the FA Cup - the first of two goals he would score against the Magpies. His best performance was arguably against Chelsea, when he scored twice in a 3-0 league victory at the Amex. He also struck for his country in a World Cup qualifier against Kenya.

He delighted Albion fans with his pace and ambitious dribbling, setting out his stall in the opening game of the campaign when he skinned Everton defender Vitalii Mykolenko and crossed for Kaoru Mitoma to score the first goal of the season, the first of four assists.

“I would say it's not bad, although I didn't get my target,” he said. “My target was ten goals, ten assists, but I didn't get that, so I'm not disappointed, although I got six goals, four assists. It's not a bad thing.

Yankuba Minteh grabbed an assist on the opening day of the Premier League season. 📷 by James Boardman.

“I'll go for it next season. I'll go home and work hard for next season.”

Only 19-years-old when he signed for the club, he started 25 games in all competitions last season, and came off the bench on 12 occasions.

“Yes, I'm very happy with that. I tried to adapt to the system. It's not easy. This is my first season. I played and scored goals for the club, and I'm very happy for the support from the fans. They're always there for us, and we will try our best next season to get them what they want also.”

That included a place in one of next season’s European competitions, but despite Albion’s 4-1 victory at Tottenham on the final day, results else where shut the door to a continental campaign.

Yankuba Minteh netted a brace against Chelsea. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“It's not a big disappointment, although we want to get to Europe, but we tried our best to get there,” he said. “We couldn't, so this is what we get. We just take the win and prepare for next season. Although we finished with good results, I hope next season we'll start with good results. That's the most important thing.”

Yankuba played in both the Champions League and Europa League alongside Mats Wieffer when on loan at Feyenoord in 2023/24 and would love to get back into either with Albion.

“It gives me really, really good motivation,” he said. “This season, we didn't get it, but next season, it's there. We just go home and prepare for it, and then come back stronger.

“We have quality in every position. Everybody's ready for the competition, and we have a big quality to get into Europe.”