West Ham United have successfully secured a deal with Kyle Walker-Peters on a free transfer following his departure from Southampton. The 28-year-old England international left the Saints after his contract expired, as the club was relegated from the Premier League last season.
Walker-Peters was initially set to join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas, but the Turkish club withdrew from the transfer on Thursday. The decision came after the defender delayed his medical examination due to interest from West Ham.
During his tenure at Southampton, Walker-Peters earned two caps for England and made 202 appearances, scoring six goals. He initially joined Southampton on loan from Tottenham Hotspur before signing a permanent deal in 2020.
In the 2023-24 season, he played 43 league matches, contributing to the Saints' promotion to the Premier League. In the subsequent 2024-25 season, he participated in 35 games and provided two assists in top-flight matches.
West Ham, who finished 14th in the league last season, have also bolstered their defense by signing Senegalese defender El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague for £19 million. Additionally, they made Jean-Clair Todibo's loan move from Nice a permanent transfer.
xml
