August 9 – West Ham have been busy in the transfer market this week, securing three top deals in the form of Niclas Fullkrug (€27 million from BVB), Crysencio Summerville (€30 million from Leeds) and Guido Rodriguez on a free from Real Betis.
The Hammers have moved aggressively to land their targets this summer but are paying high prices.
Although on the surface Germany international Niclas Fullkrug feels like a good pickup, spending almost €30 million on a 31-year-old who has never played in the Premier League feels brash, let alone that he’s now on a lucrative four-year deal that will expire when he’s 35.
The club has almost wrapped up the signing of Nice defender Jean Claire Todibo, who had been linked with Manchester United and Juventus.
Across the board, though, the trend of high spending continues with striker market particularly inflated in price, as Atalanta, West Ham, and Atletico Madrid all pay well above Transfermarkt values.
The most expensive deal for the week was for Joao Neves, who signed for PSG on a 5-year-deal. The 19-year-old marks the first major signing from the French Champions as they look to patch up the hole left by Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid.
Emile Smith Rowe joined Fulham from Arsenal in a deal worth €31.8 million. Having struggled for game time in recent seasons due to injury and form, the English midfielder’s price tag is built around his impressive 2021/22 season, in which he tallied 10 Premier League goals at just 21-years-old. Last season, however, Smith Rowe played just 346 league minutes for the Gunners.
The week was finished with the signing of Mateo Retegui to Atalanta – likely brought in to replace out-of-action striker Gianluca Scamacca who is set to be sidelined for most of the season with an ACL injury. Retegui has featured prominently for the Italian national team and was eager to make the step up at club level.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1731702272labto1731702272ofdlr1731702272owedi1731702272sni@g1731702272niwe.1731702272yrrah1731702272