West Ham United confirmed the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, a 26-year-old right-back, from Manchester United for around £15 million. The defender signed a long-term contract until 2031 after completing his medical.
Wan-Bissaka, a graduate of the Crystal Palace Academy, said he is thrilled to return to his hometown and join West Ham, describing the move as a "no-brainer" and expressing excitement about the team's unity and support.
Manchester United have signed Noussair Mazraoui, a 26-year-old right-back, from Bayern Munich for an undisclosed fee to strengthen their defense and create competition for Diogo Dalot. Mazraoui previously played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax and won the Bundesliga with Bayern in 2023.
Manchester United are reportedly lining up replacements for their defense, including Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, an 18-year-old center-back from Lille, for a reported fee of 62 million euros. They have also enquired about Monaco's Youssouf Fofana and are interested in Manuel Ugarte, who has been left out of PSG's training matches.
West Ham United spent around £130 million on new players this summer, including Jean-Clair Todibo, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Guilherme, Niclas Fullkrug, Wes Foderingham, Max Kilman, and Guido Rodriguez, balancing out the investment with sales worth approximately £40 million.
Wan-Bissaka excells in one-v-one defending, but has been criticized for his lack of offensive productivity and average passing. West Ham sees him as a solid fit, offering a defensive option to complement their more attacking full-back.
Wan-Bissaka will wear the No. 29 jersey at West Ham, a number he has previously worn at Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Extra Time, BBC, The Guardian, New York Times, Reuters, Independent, The Sun, Mirror