{"id":12710,"date":"2026-05-27T02:30:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T02:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12710"},"modified":"2026-05-27T02:30:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T02:30:59","slug":"ranking-every-west-ham-signing-from-the-2025-26-season-worst-to-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=12710","title":{"rendered":"Ranking every West Ham signing from the 2025\/26 season \u2013 worst to best"},"content":{"rendered":"


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West Ham signed 13 first-team players in the 2025\/26 season for a combined \u00a3170 million.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Mateus Fernandes to Taty Castellanos, the Hammers\u2019 squad was rebuilt with new arrivals in every position.<\/p>\n

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The rebuild will ultimately be considered a failure following the club\u2019s relegation from the Premier League.<\/p>\n

However, West Ham will still be delighted about how a handful of recent signings fared in their debut campaigns. <\/p>\n

Hammers News<\/strong> has now ranked every incoming transfer from worst to best, starting with Pablo Felipe.<\/p>\n

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Who were your BEST and WORST performers of 2025\/26?<\/h3>\n

Let us know below \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Every West Ham signing from 2025\/26 ranked<\/h2>\n

13. Pablo Felipe<\/h3>\n

Pablo Felipe was not only West Ham\u2019s worst transfer of the 2025\/26 campaign but also one of the worst ever.<\/p>\n

The striker arrived at the London Stadium for \u00a318 million from Gil Vicente, having scored 10 goals in the first half of the season.<\/p>\n

Pablo has failed to score in any of his 17 appearances despite playing alongside Castellanos in a front two. <\/p>\n

12. Jean-Clair Todibo<\/h3>\n

Jean-Clair Todibo remains a useful Premier League centre-back, but his price tag changes the outlook on the deal.<\/p>\n

Having spent last season on loan in East London, West Ham decided to trigger his \u00a335m option to buy from Nice.<\/p>\n

Todibo has often underwhelmed this season and even refused to play on the final day after falling out with Nuno Espirito Santo.<\/p>\n

11. Igor Julio<\/h3>\n

Most West Ham supporters will probably forget about Igor Julio in a few years, as he barely contributed anything.<\/p>\n

The defender played just four times in the first half of the season before returning to Brighton in January.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s your early prediction for West Ham\u2019s 2026\/27 Championship campaign? \ud83d\udc40<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

10. Soungoutou Magassa<\/h3>\n

Soungoutou Magassa became the latest potential replacement for Tomas Soucek upon his \u00a315m arrival from Monaco.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Magassa suffered the same fate as almost every other midfielder West Ham have signed recently.<\/p>\n

He was eventually demoted to the bench, as Soucek returned to the starting line-up under Nuno in 2026.<\/p>\n

9. Keiber Lamadrid<\/h3>\n

It feels premature to judge whether West Ham\u2019s signing of Keiber Lamadrid was a hit or a miss.<\/p>\n

It will likely depend on whether the 22-year-old\u2019s loan deal is made permanent and whether he gets a chance next season.<\/p>\n

If Lamadrid returns to Venezuela this summer once his loan expires, it would have been a waste of time.<\/p>\n

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Who is most to BLAME for West Ham going down? \ud83d\ude20<\/h3>\n

Explain your choice in the comments\u2026 \ud83d\udcad<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Nuno<\/div>
Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts \u2013 CameraSport\/CameraSport via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

8. Adama Traore<\/h3>\n

Adama Traore was a risk-free, \u00a32m signing from Fulham in the January transfer window.<\/p>\n

As many expected, the former Wolves winger did not provide much competition for Crysencio Summerville or Jarrod Bowen.<\/p>\n

He could have a greater impact in the Championship if West Ham could convince him to sign a new deal.<\/p>\n

7. Mads Hermansen<\/h3>\n

Mads Hermansen arrived from Leicester City with a growing reputation as an up-and-coming Premier League goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

The Dane\u2019s reputation soon changed after conceding a bucketload of goals and being dropped for Alphonse Areola.<\/p>\n

Hermansen eventually regained his place in the starting XI and delivered some decent performances in 2026.<\/p>\n

6. Callum Wilson<\/h3>\n

Callum Wilson\u2019s free transfer from Newcastle was one of West Ham\u2019s shrewdest deals in the last few seasons.<\/p>\n

The proven Premier League goalscorer did exactly what he does best, scoring seven goals in 11 league starts.<\/p>\n

Many would argue that he could have saved West Ham from relegation if only he had been given more playing time.<\/p>\n

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Which players could actually BENEFIT from a Championship season? \ud83e\udd28<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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5. Kyle Walker-Peters<\/h3>\n

Signings are never guaranteed to work out, but Kyle Walker-Peters\u2019 free transfer from Southampton felt like a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

The full-back will probably never win a Man of the Match award, but he will also rarely be less than a 6\/10.<\/p>\n

Walker-Peters could become even more valuable next season if Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaves this summer.<\/p>\n

4. Taty Castellanos<\/h3>\n

Taty Castellanos has not received the credit that he deserves for his performances since joining from Lazio in January.<\/p>\n

Although he has not been outstanding, six non-penalty goals in 18 Premier League games is a decent return.<\/p>\n

West Ham should either recoup the full \u00a326m they paid to sign Castellanos or build their attack around him in the Championship.<\/p>\n

3. El Hadji Malick Diouf<\/h3>\n

West Ham supporters\u2019 final memory of El Hadji Malick Diouf in a claret and blue shirt will be his dismal display against Leeds.<\/p>\n

However, the 21-year-old has provided tremendous energy on the left side throughout the season.<\/p>\n

Having signed for \u00a319m from Slavia Prague, Diouf will likely be sold for closer to \u00a330m \u2013 a healthy profit after just 12 months.<\/p>\n

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Imagine YOU are in control! Who are you hiring to replace Nuno? \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

Tell us who and why below \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Nuno<\/div>
Photo by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

2. Axel Disasi<\/h3>\n

Axel Disasi\u2019s reputation was in tatters six months ago, as parent club Chelsea did not even let him train with the first-team squad.<\/p>\n

The Frenchman took no time at all to return to his best, forming a solid partnership with Dinos Mavropanos at the back.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest disappointments to come from West Ham\u2019s relegation is that Disasi may never play for the club again.<\/p>\n

1. Mateus Fernandes<\/h3>\n

West Ham rarely spend \u00a338m on a player, so Mateus Fernandes was immediately under pressure to perform.<\/p>\n

However, the Portugal international exceeded expectations, as he was often the best player on the pitch on both sides.<\/p>\n

Fernandes will almost certainly join one of the \u2018Big Six\u2019 clubs in England this summer after a superb season with the Hammers.<\/p>\n

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