There was some poignant significance about the picture of Maty Ryan we have used online a couple of times of late.

It shows the Socceroos goalkeeper waving to Albion fans high up in that end at Wolves.

We did not know it at the time but it was, as it turns out, Ryan saying farewell to Seagulls supporters in the Premier League.

About 2,500 got to see him play on a pre-season game against Chelsea last summer.

But that 0-0 draw at Molineux on March 7 last year proved to be his last in the Prem before fans.

Robert Sanchez had taken over by the time 2,000 apiece saw matches versus Southampton and Sheffield United and 8,000 roared their side to a late-season win over Manchester City.

Ryan said he was looking forward to playing in front of a crowd again when he spoke to club media at Real Sociedad on Monday evening.

He had flown back from holiday in California, to Bilbao via Munich, to complete his return to LaLiga Santander.

It appears a good move for all concerned.

But Albion fans will have their own fond memories of Ryan as one of those players who established the club in the Premier League.

In a video released by Albion a while ago, he picked out a penalty save at Stoke City as his best for the club.

Ryan dived to his right to parry a Charlie Adam spot kick during a frenetic finale which saw the Seagulls cling to an important point in the battle to stay up back in 2017-18.

It was a good choice. But I’d perhaps go for a stop from Son Hueng-min as one of my top selections.

Albion fans were howling injustice as Tottenham were allowed to play on and attack when it seemed first-half stoppage time must have elapsed.

This was at a time when survival was not yet secure after a tough run of results.

Son’s shot was well struck and arrowing just inside the post.

But Ryan stretched to get his left hand to the ball and, with fingertips, deflect it inches wide It was at that precise moment that the half-time whistle was blown.

As at Stoke, a very important as well as a good save.

Instead of going behind right on half-time, Albion went on to secure a point which nudged them towards a safety which was secured next time out, at home to Manchester United.

But sometimes, the most extraordinary saves do not count for anything in the final analysis.

Like the penalty save low to his right to deny Wayne Rooney at Goodison Park.

Or a scarcely credible effort on the final day at Anfield in 2018.

Liverpool were in full cry that day, not least Mo Salah, as they warmed up for what they thought would be a victorious appearance against Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

At one stage, Sadio Mane and Salah bore down on the Kop end goal with no defenders in the frame. Mane squared the ball but Ryan was quick to close Salah down and block his shot almost at source.

Liverpool still won 4-0 but it could have been more.

Or how about a double stop at point blank range to deny Paul Pogba at Old Trafford?

It was 0-0 at the time but United went on to win the match 1-0.

Ryan would come out trying to narrow angles in a sort of ice hockey net-minder stance and it often worked.

There was a double save at home to Everton or a late reflex stop against Wolves to preserve a third successive 1-0 win.

In his last full season at Albion, you perhaps recall the scampering paw away of a header to preserve the special 2-1 win at Arsenal.

Not so many of those top saves will have come last season.

His comparative lack of presence as high balls came in was perhaps one reason why he lost his place.

That become more noticeable when the double act of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk ahead of him was broken up.

There was widespread surprise, maybe disbelief, last year when reports emerged that Albion were keen to sign Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal.

Looking at what happened in the subsequent months, and looking at the type of keeper Sanchez is, that development now makes a lot more sense.

Now Ryan’s time with the Seagulls is over - after 121 Prem starts plus two in the FA Cup.

The expectation around San Sebastian, the stunning coastal city Ryan will now call home, is he will start the league season behind Remiro in the pecking order.

Remiro was ever present last term for the side with the fourth best defensive record in LaLiga and, like Ryan, is confident with the ball at his feet.

Remember Real Sociedad open their league season at the Camp Nou against Barcelona.

But Ryan will keen to pick up where he left off at Molineux, - with reason to take applause from the fans.