West Ham trigger Ben Johnson extension to fend off Arsenal and Spurs interest
West Ham have reportedly triggered the option to extend defender Ben Johnson’s contract at the club.
According to the Evening Standard, the Hammers took up the option and have now tied down the 22-year-old until 2024.
It’s understood that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were circling around the player, but this ends their interest in him.
The Hammers have been in talks with the Englishman for a while over a potential new contract.
He stays
While this is not a new deal yet for Johnson, this does its job of protecting the Hammers in the transfer window.
There surely will be more negotiations in the future as the 22-year-old would want a pay rise.
He has come into his element this season under David Moyes and has grown from strength to strength.
From being third in the pecking order of right-backs, it could be argued that he’s the manager’s preferred option in that position.
Hammers coach Stuart Pearce has been waxing lyrical the versatile full-back for the last few years.
He said in 2019, via the Independent, “He’s a wonderful professional to deal with and work with. We’re very proud to have him out of our academy system as well, which is a real plus for us, especially with the connection to this club with the academy.”
We’re hoping that there are no super rich clubs that table offers for him in the summer as he deserves to be at the London Stadium for the long term.
In other West Ham news, the club want to sign a ‘Brilliant’ Chelsea player who will tick a major box for David Moyes
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