West Ham finalise personal terms over first summer signing for Graham Potter
West Ham need to have a big summer transfer window, but their first signing may not be the most popular one.
West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League and are in need of a rebuild after a woeful campaign, but funds may not be free-flowing.
Graham Potter is already under pressure to get the Hammers off to a flying start, and will seek additions in the transfer window to improve his squad.
The first signing of the summer has now been confirmed, but it is one that Potter may not have made in different circumstances.
West Ham confirm Jean-Clair Todibo deal
West Ham have now confirmed that loanee Jean-Clair Todibo will join permanently in a deal which could rise to £32.8 million, with contract terms now all finalised and completed.
The Hammers pulled off a coup last summer as they beat Juventus to the signing of Todibo from Nice, but the defender had an underwhelming season on loan.
| Stats | Todibo |
| Games played | 27 |
| Starts | 20 |
| Yellow cards | 3 |
As per The Athletic (3 June), Alphonse Areola convinced Todibo to join him in East London rather than move to Juventus, and the two will continue to play together next season.
However, there was a clause in his loan contract which meant that if West Ham beat relegation, his loan would become permanent for a substantial £32.8 million fee.
Todibo deal could hold West Ham back
Todibo signed for West Ham under Julen Lopetegui, but has a different manager in Potter now, who joined midway through the season.
Potter arrived after the deal to sign Todibo permanently was inserted into his loan clause, and spending such a huge fee this summer could hold West Ham back in the market.
Although Todibo became more of a regular starter under Potter than Lopetegui, the Englishman may not have signed the Frenchman again had his obligation to buy merely been an option, given the fee West Ham have had to fork out.
There are plenty of gaps in the squad, and there will now be pressure on Todibo to improve after a difficult first season in England, whle West Ham may have to make other sales in order to fix their finances after such a huge outlay.