£3m update emerges as Ben Johnson quits West Ham United for Ipswich Town
Ben Johnson’s agent received a £3million fee as the defender completed a permanent move to Ipswich Town, according to West Ham Football.
The reliable Hammers news outlet reported on 1 July that the London club will not receive any compensation for the 24-year-old.
The English full-back spent the last 17 years at the club, joining them when he was a seven-year-old and follows Said Benrahma, Nathan Trott, Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna, among others, out of the door.
Via Twitter, the news outlet wrote: “Ipswich Town have officially unveiled former Hammer Ben Johnson on a four-year deal as a free agent reported to worth £60,000 per week (£12.5m) plus a seven-figure signing on fee. Agent received £3m.
“Despite being at West Ham for 17 years the Hammers will receive NO compensation due to the player’s age of 24 with the end of the season of the players 23rd birthday being the cut-off point to receive training compensation.”
West Ham should’ve sold Ben Johnson in January or last summer
The Hammers’ decision not to sell Johnson in January or last summer reflects poor planning on their part as his contract was set to expire at the end of the season, meaning the club would receive no compensation for him if he left as a free agent.
By not selling him earlier, they missed out on the opportunity to receive a transfer fee for the player.
The defender’s performances had been inconsistent and he was not a regular starter for the club.
By keeping him on the bench or in the reserves, the London club were not making the most of his potential value.
Selling him earlier could have allowed the club to reinvest the funds in other areas of the squad.
His departure as a free agent highlights a lack of succession planning at the London Stadium as the club should have made plans to replace him if he left.
Hopefully, Tim Steidten and co. have learnt their lessons and such things do not occur in the future.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have made a significant transfer swoop as a bid has been submitted for a Euro 2024 star which is the highest one received by the club.
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