West Ham United

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport football statistician

Many people outside of West Ham could not understand supporter dissatisfaction last season given the club's top-half finish, but the stats do support some of the concerns they had.

Match-going fans did not often see the team play on the front foot, as the Hammers rarely dominated the ball or fought to win it high up the pitch. While that can be written off as a preference of playing style, the fact only four teams had fewer shots going forward and only three faced more at the back cannot.

Results are what matter most so a third top-half finish in four seasons is a great achievement, but new head coach Julen Lopetegui has more to work on than last season's table suggests if West Ham hope to repeat the feat.

Al-Ittihad do not want to sell 33-year-old France midfielder N'Golo Kante, despite links with West Ham United and Atletico Madrid. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

We asked for your views on West Ham signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United for £15m.

Here are some of your comments:

Sue: Another good signing - sounds like an interesting season coming up for us.

Len: Things are looking good at West Ham - looks at last a solid defence and a good balance to the team. Hope the youngsters are given a chance - they have worked hard for it and it will motivate others in the academy.

Alex: Got to be a good signing for us. Coufal has served us well but his time is up, I fear. AWB is still quite young for a full-back so should serve us well for a good few years. He is the missing piece of our backline puzzle. If we could bring in a left-back too that would be fantastic. I still think we need a younger striker to complete us.

Andy: Wan-Bissaka is just making up numbers really. He;s no improvement on what we've already got, and by the sounds of it wasn't enthusiastic about joining. But the squad needed numbers, so at least there's that. A very 'meh' signing.

Roy: Well, the manager has had great support and I believe he has made some very shrewd signings. We are going to be a handful but we need the players he has signed to feed Jarrod Bowen so he can fulfil his true potential. Far more to come from Jarrod and James Ward-Prowse. Good manager, great signings. New signings - don't let the manager down, guys.

Gavin: Well pleased with this signing. I think it completes the team brilliantly. A London boy, still in his prime. Plenty of experience too from playing in Europe with United. Hopefully we can get back into Europe soon. Come on, you Irons.

James Jones
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

Eighth-10th. I think a top-10 finish should be the target at the very least. The decision to move on David Moyes and go in a different direction will only be vindicated if Julen Lopetegui builds on the very solid foundations Moyes left in place. On paper, the squad is good enough to challenge for European qualification, but we have to be realistic.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Niclas Fullkrug. All the business the club has done has been brilliant, but signing the Germany striker is something of a coup given his career achievements over the past four years. There is real hope that he will be the man to finally end West Ham's Premier League striker curse.

What do you want from your manager this season?

Signs of progress, but also that the football will be a lot more fun to watch than it was over the final 18 months of Moyes' tenure. It will not always be possible and we will have to witness the odd very defensive display still, but if the signs are there that he wants his team to have possession of the ball, the fans should be more accepting.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

If George Earthy is not sent out on loan then he could enjoy some increased first-team action this season. He has a lot of promise after scoring against Luton on his debut last season.

What is your one major concern?

That if does not click straight away, fans will get restless. This season must be all about transition and the players getting used to Lopetegui's ideas. We have to be patient and give it time. The reality is that it is not going to be perfect at all times and there will likely be some frustrating and difficult moments throughout the season.

James Jones can be found at We Are West Ham, external

Image source, WHUFC

New West Ham signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka has said he is "excited and happy to" to be at the club after signing from Manchester United for £15m.

The right-back has joined the Hammers on a seven-year contract after making 190 appearances for the Red Devils across five seasons.

Speaking about his move he told West Ham's official website: “It was a no brainer for me to join West Ham – I’m excited and happy to be here.”

The 26-year-old started his career at Crystal Palace and said: “It’s an amazing feeling to be back in London, and I’m excited for what’s coming. I was born here, so I know the ins and outs of London, which plays a big part in my life, so to be back playing in this city means a lot to me.

“I’m happy to be here, am grateful for the warm welcome, and I am excited to be playing for the club and will give it my all.

“I can’t wait to get on the pitch, get to know the players, and push on from there. I see a team that is in it together, that will push each other to win, and a group that has got each others' backs through thick and thin, so being part of that and having that insurance helps a lot when you are surrounded by a good squad.”

The club have announced he will wear the number 29 shirt, after having previously worn it at Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

What are you thoughts on the signing?

Have your say here, external

After a long summer break, BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club is back in action this evening.

Tune in as the panel cover all the major talking points from the summer and look ahead to Premier League football returning at the weekend.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Kurt Zouma’s proposed move United Arab Emirates side Shabab Al-Ahli has collapsed after the West Ham defender failed a medical.

Zouma had travelled to Dubai to complete a lucrative deal but his advisors are now trying to work out an alternative option.

The former Chelsea star still has a year left on his Hammers contract but the club has already brought in another central defender in Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice on a loan deal that includes a €40m (£34.22m) obligation to buy.

In addition, West Ham paid Wolves £40m for skipper Max Kilman last month.

Image source, Getty Images

The curtain opens on the 2024-25 Premier League season in just a matter of days, so why not take a look at how all 20 clubs performed in pre-season?

The games have been spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Crawley and Preston.

See the results here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's pre-season friendly between West Ham United and Celta Vigo.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: Bit of a mixed pre-season really, but the squad looks good and some great signings. Europe places comfortably. COYI.

Jimmy: Exciting time to be a Hammer with real ambition shown pre-season by the board. I won’t forget that Moyes set us on this journey and now it’s the boys' time to show their worth and desire to be legends in years to come.

Adrian: The first choice team looks so much better than anything else we’ve seen in pre-season. Defending needs lots of work but we now have something to build on.

Rob: The squad is shaping up wonderfully but it will be a few games before we are able to field our ideal first XI. Some tough fixtures to negotiate but West Ham supporters should be over the proverbial moon with the investment the club has made.

Ian: A lot of positives. Much more pressing and assertive play. New players got a run out and I have a lot of hope for the new season. Credit where due, we seem to have brought in better quality and players will have to compete for places.

Ahead of his move to West Ham, Manchester United have reached an agreement with English right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka over an exit settlement. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham wrapped up their pre-season campaign with an entertaining victory over Celta Vigo on penalties at London Stadium.

Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta either side of an equaliser from Celta's Mihailo Ristic had set Julen Lopetegui's side on their way only for Pablo Duran to make it 2-2 midway through the second half.

That scoreline forced a shootout with the Hammers finally triumphing 6-5 on penalties.

So what did you make of that performance?

Is the side ready for the new season?

Let us know your thoughts here, external - and return on Monday to read the submissions

The Premier League season is fast approaching and clubs are continuing their pre-season preparations.

Here's a look at some of the teams in action on a busy Saturday.

All times BST

Image source, West Ham United FC

West Ham are kicking off their final pre-season friendly against Celta Vigo shortly but here's a snap of the new third kit, released on Saturday morning.

The Hammers say it is "an embodiment of simple elegance" and is "a perfect accompaniment" to the home and away kits already unveiled this summer.

Image source, Getty Images

As Kurt Zouma closes in on a move to the UAE, Jean-Clair Todibo is set to undergo his medical in East London. How do they compare?

Todibo is already a well-travelled footballer at 24, having played in Spain, Germany, Portugal and his native France. It is since he joined Nice in 2021 that he finally settled in a side and started building his career at the top level.

It won't be easy for Todibo to replace Kurt Zouma. The 29 year-old had a successful three seasons at the London Stadium, helping to end the club's trophy drought with the Europa Conference League victory in 2023 and captaining the side after the departure of Declan Rice.

It could be argued that a centre-back is one of the more difficult positions to judge using stats, but the initial numbers look positive.

If Julen Lopetegui wants to get the Hammers playing a possession-based style of football, then Todibo's 90% pass accuracy in 2023-24 certainly looks more favourable than Zouma's 84%. Not only does Todibo beat Zouma in this stat, but he ranks higher than every other player in the Hammers squad.

Todibo was a lot busier than Zouma on the ground last season, making almost double the amount of tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes than his fellow Frenchman. Zouma was more active in the air, but Todibo, who stands at 6ft 3in, slightly edges him out on aerial success.

A lot of West Ham fans may be wondering if Todibo can make the step from French football to the Premier League. Hopefully the success of Lucas Paqueta, formerly of Lyon, will assure them that Todibo's success in the French league can be translated to English football.

It remains to be seen if Todibo can fill Zouma's boots, but the early signs are promising.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is due to have a medical with West Ham United today, amid continuing interest from Juventus.

Manchester United wanted to sign Todibo this summer but were blocked from doing so by Uefa due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's involvement with Nice, as it contravened their associated party transaction rules.

The 24-year-old former Barcelona defender has been coveted by many other European clubs and, given Juventus have qualified for the Champions League, it would be a major coup if West Ham could complete the transfer, which is still not completely certain.

The Hammers have been one of the more proactive clubs this summer, with technical director Tim Steidten keen to reshape the squad following David Moyes' departure.

If the deal happens, it would be an initial loan with a €40m (£34.22m) buy option.

Kurt Zouma's impending departure for the United Arab Emirates will create space on the wage bill, given he is one of the club's highest earners.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Right now, brinkmanship is the name of the game. There have been times when some clubs sorted their transfer business early in the window and everyone wondered why so few others followed their lead. Put simply, it isn't in the selling clubs' financial interest, and it usually isn't in the moving player's financial interest either, to go early.

A selling club wants a bidding war to up the price and they don't mind a bit of panic buying when the window is creaking ever nearer the sill. If you still haven't signed that star player who you think, hope or maybe even actually believe, will make all the difference, clubs can get twitchy and make rash costly decisions.

I have watched it happen from within. Good intentions and a willingness to stick to a pre-arranged budget, suddenly evaporates when clubs are bounced into making these calls. There is also a bit of pride in there too. "We aren't losing out on our first choice to that lot!" is a common refrain, especially when it's to one of your close rivals.

As for the moving player, or more specifically his agent, last-minute brinkmanship is the dream scenario. Playing two or three suitors off against each other (and you don't even have to tell the truth of what you are being offered elsewhere) means you can exaggerate as much as you like to up the ante.

So that is why the deals go to the wire, and why they are so lucrative. It is also why I never have too much sympathy for a player, when a huge deal falls through at the last moment. Greed can push it too far in the end and it can all come crashing down, which is why they call it brinkmanship! If you dance on the edge of a volcano you might just fall in.

West Ham are interested in England right-back Kieran Trippier, with the 33-year-old's future at Newcastle yet to be decided. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

West Ham are also keen on Chelsea's English defender Trevoh Chalobah, 26, and 35-year-old Germany centre-back Mats Hummels, who is a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column