West Ham transfers | Finally ! Longest running saga of 2025 is complete

West Ham transfers | Finally ! Longest running saga of 2025 is complete

Martin Treasure

3 minutes

The 2024 saga was undoubtedly the Jhon Duran “Will he- wont he, did he- didn’t he, did we, didn’t we” saga which rumbled on into the winter and ended up with West Ham signing Niclas Fullkrug instead. Another year, another striker saga for the Hammers unfolded in 2025 as a host of suitors lined up alongside the Hammers to try and tempt the hottest property of the year to look their way like some beauty pageant in reverse.

It has all ended – predictably – in tears for the Hammers as the worst-kept secret in European football has finally been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano with his trademark ‘here we go‘ – and Juventus have got their man:

“BREAKING: Jonathan David to Juventus, here we go! Verbal agreement reached overnight on every detail with Canadian striker. Long term deal agreed and Jonathan David’s set to travel for medical tests, formal steps to follow. Contracts to be checked and signed soon.”

David’s salary demands and signing on fee would have made him a next-to impossible reach for West Ham, and David as a free agent was always going to go where he’d play Champions League football.

So realistically, the Hammers were wasting their time and resources in wining and dining his entourage in the winter. In any case, he’s not Graham Potter’s style of striker and would have been about as effective at London Stadium as a younger version of Danny Ings.

Sour grapes entirely: We didn’t want him anyway. If Graham Potter ever harboured any realistic ambition to land a striker of the Calibre of Jonathan David then he’s had a very rude awakening and and a massive reality check as to the challenge to rebuild West Ham. We could have told him in January.

Bring on a Crocked Brazilian or a past – it English Premier League journeyman with dodgy ACL’s – Johnathan David is a thoroughbred racehorse and the Irons feel much more comfortable with the usual knackered carthorses or untested yearlings.

From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds’ stand these days I’ve been watching since ’03 and a supporter since about 1970.. Don’t take my comments too seriously, imagine we are having a chat at half time over a pint at L S and “let’s disagree without falling out”.