Wan-Bissaka completes West Ham switch from Manchester United

By Sports Desk August 13, 2024

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has joined West Ham United on a seven-year contract for a reported fee of £15million from Manchester United.

The 26-year-old spent five seasons at the club after joining for £50million in 2019, making 190 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils.

The English defender, who was born in London, returns to the capital having started his career in the south of the city with Crystal Palace.

Now in east London as West Ham's seventh signing of the transfer window, Wan-Bissaka is looking forward to his time in claret and blue.

"It was a no-brainer for me to join West Ham - I'm excited and happy to be here. It’s an amazing feeling to be back in London," Wan-Bissaka told the West Ham website.

“I was born here, so I know the ins and outs of London, which plays a big part in my life, so to be back playing in this city means a lot to me.”

Wan-Bissaka further strengthens Julen Lopetegui's defensive options after a season in which only Sheffield United (104), Luton Town (85) and Burnley (78) conceded more than West Ham's 74 last campaign. 

The defender won 25 of his 42 tackles, a total only bettered by Kobbie Mainoo (27), Bruno Fernandes (38), Diogo Dalot (51) and Casemiro (56) for Erik ten Hag's side. 

Now, Wan-Bissaka hopes to bring his defensive prowess to the Hammers, who will hope to improve on last season’s ninth-placed finish under new manager Lopetegui.

"I can't wait to get on the pitch, get to know the players, and push on from there,” he said.

"I see a team that is in it together, that will push each other to win, and a group that has got each others' backs through thick and thin.

“Being part of that and having that insurance helps a lot when you are surrounded by a good squad."

Related items

  • Salah, Van Dijk released early in boost for Liverpool ahead of Chelsea clash Salah, Van Dijk released early in boost for Liverpool ahead of Chelsea clash

    Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool earlier than expected, along with Virgil van Dijk, after he was released from international duty by Egypt on Saturday. 

    The 32-year-old was on the scoresheet as Egypt defeated Mauritania 2-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday, and was also expected to feature in the return fixture on Tuesday. 

    However, in a boost for the Reds, who face fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League on October 20, Salah will head back to Merseyside having played just once for his country.

    "The technical staff of Egypt's senior football team led by manager Hossam Hassan held a meeting with Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Pharaohs," the Egyptian FA said in a statement. 

    "It was agreed during the meeting to rest the player from the upcoming match."

  • Ederson lauds 'sometimes annoying' Guardiola Ederson lauds 'sometimes annoying' Guardiola

    Ederson says it is an honour to be a part of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, though admitted the manager can be "sometimes annoying".

    The goalkeeper joined City in June 2017 and has since kept 113 clean sheets in 257 Premier League appearances, more than any other goalkeeper in the competition since his debut.

    He has won 15 major trophies with City, including six Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and a Champions League title, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup under Guardiola. 

    While on international duty with Brazil, Ederson attended an event for Children's Day and was asked if Guardiola was nice, annoying or angry by one child.

    "You're going to get me in trouble," Ederson told ESPN Brasil. "He's all three.

    "He's a nice guy, he's sometimes annoying, in the sense of [being] demanding, because he has to [be] demanding to a professional [player], and he's also angry when he has to be angry.

    "So he has a mixture of all three. But he's a nice guy off the pitch, and he's a very, very demanding guy on it. And he's also a guy who gets angry like any other person, like any other coach, when things don't go well or when the team doesn't play well.

    "Of course, we know that we're not going to be able to play 70 games at a brilliant level. Of course, in one game or another, there's going to be a dip."

    Under Guardiola, City became the only English club in history to hold all five trophies – Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Super Cup and Club World Cup – in a calendar year (in 2023).

    In the English top-flight, Guardiola has overseen 311 games since July 2016, winning 230 of those (D43 L38). He has a 73.95% win percentage in the competition and averages 2.36 points per game.

    And Ederson believes the Spaniard, who has been named the Premier League manager of the season five times, has changed football in the competition.

    "I've been able to play a big part in the project," he said. "You take everything Guardiola has built up with the group, with the squad and everything he's been able to reformulate practically.

    "You see every Premier League game today, how the teams try to play more football, have more possession. It's completely different from when he arrived.

    "So to be able to be part of this project and achieve everything I've achieved, I feel very honoured, it really is a childhood dream."

  • Former Liverpool defender Matip confirms retirement Former Liverpool defender Matip confirms retirement

    Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip has confirmed his retirement from professional football. 

    Matip, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2016, has been without a club since leaving Anfield at the end of last season and has since decided to call time on his 15-year career. 

    The 33-year-old started his career at Schalke, making 258 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit and helping them lift the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup in 2011. 

    Matip was among the first signings made by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, joining in the same window as Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Loris Karius. 

    He helped the Reds return to the Champions League in Klopp's first full campaign in charge, making 29 Premier League appearances and keeping nine clean sheets. 

    However, his spell with the Reds was marred by repetitive injuries, sustaining 16 different issues across his eight-year spell on Merseyside. 

    The former Cameroon international's final appearance for Liverpool came in a 4-3 win over Fulham in December 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the same game. 

    Matip made 201 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and winning six major honours, which included the Reds' sixth Champions League triumph. 

     

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.