London-based club, West Ham have reached an agreement with Dutch side, Ajax, to sign Edson Alvarez.
The Hammers have agreed to a £34 million deal with Ajax for Alvarez who will become their first signing of the summer. The Dutch club are expected to have a sell-on clause in the agreement.
The 25-year-old is expected to undergo his medical this week. It marks a protracted switch to England for the Mexico international, who came close to joining Chelsea last September. He was desperate to complete a £43m move to Stamford Bridge on deadline day, but it was shut down by Ajax who were unable to find a suitable replacement before the transfer window expired.
It’s been gathered that new Ajax coach, Maurice Steijn wants to keep Alvarez, but he is once again seeing a key player leaving the Amsterdam club. Previously, defenders Jurrien Timber (to Arsenal) and Calvin Bassey (to Fulham) transferred to Premier League clubs. Captain Dusan Tadic also moved from Ajax to Turkish club Fenerbahce.
Alvarez also almost joined Borussia Dortmund at the start of the current transfer window, but the move collapsed because of personal terms.
The Mexican midfielder, who occasionally played center-back for Ajax, had a contract in Amsterdam that extended to the summer of 2025. During his time in Amsterdam, he played 147 games, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists. He won two Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup in 2021. A few weeks ago, he also won the Gold Cup with the Mexican national team.
West Ham’s midfield revamp may not stop after Alvarez’s acquisition as, according to the Evening Standard, Moyes is expected to go back in for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.
The report suggests that the Championship side are holding out for £35 million after rejecting a £30 million proposal from the east Londoners.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty over where Ward-Prowse’s long-term future lies, he started Southampton’s opening day win over Sheffield Wednesday and also provided an assist.