Edson Alvarez to Ajax given six-word response after events at West Ham
Edson Alvarez’s move to West Ham certainly hasn’t gone to plan.
He joined the Hammers for £35.4million from Ajax in August 2023, but failed to impress in the last two seasons.
West Ham loaned Alvarez to Fenerbahce in the summer after it became clear the midfielder was not a part of Graham Potter’s plans.
The Turkish outfit has the option to sign him permanently for £19.43m, with several clubs also interested in the 28-year-old midfielder.
Ajax were said to be one of the teams in the race sign him in the winter transfer window, although that certainly can’t happen now.
Edson Alvarez definitely can’t return to Ajax now
De Telegraaf reported on 22 January that Ajax are interested in re-signing Alvarez, as their sporting director, Marijn Beuker, travelled to Istanbul to meet with the Mexico international.
However, Dutch journalist Mike Verweij reported via X on Tuesday that the rumour “can go straight in the bin”.
He added that Alvarez is not allowed to move directly from Fenerbahce to Ajax as he would first have to return to E20.
However, this is no longer possible after the English transfer market closed on Monday evening.
Fenerbahce want to sign Alvarez for a lower price than the £19.43m in the agreement, despite the fact that he has been impressive for them this season.
| Stat | Alvarez |
| Appearances | 11 |
| Pass accuracy | 87.9% |
| Ground duels won | 48.4% |
| Aerial duels won | 44.4% |
| Tackles | 28 |
| Interceptions | 18 |
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the Hammers will hope that he continues to excel in Turkey, in order to maintain his value when they sell him in the summer.
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Alvarez is one of West Ham’s worst signings of the decade
Having joined West Ham with a big reputation, he was hugely underwhelming under David Moyes, Julen Lopetegui, and Potter.
If you include Guido Rodriguez’s failed move to West Ham, the Hammers bought two of the most unfit defensive midfielders in Europe across consecutive seasons.
It has been a huge reason as to why the Hammers have struggled in recent years, and it’s staggering to think that the money West Ham earned from the sale of Declan Rice was partly used to sign the Mexican.
The intensity of the Premier League isn’t a match for his qualities, and at least he has found his level at Fenerbahce.
The Hammers have the likes of Soungoutou Magassa and Freddie Potts who need time to develop, but it seems evident that Alvarez will never be in the West Ham squad again.
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