10 most expensive West Ham transfers of all time: From Manuel Pellegrini flop to Lucas Paqueta
West Ham fans love nothing more than a big-money signing, but for every major hit there is also a major flop.
Igor Julio was West Ham’s only deadline-day signing this past summer window, despite supporters expecting a flurry of activity ahead of the business end of the Premier League.
Karren Brady came under fire from West Ham fans for her role in the failure of the summer transfer window, but it hasn’t always been that way for the Hammers.
The likes of Dimitri Payet and Jarrod Bowen made themselves heroes at the London Stadium, but others didn’t quite get up to speed.
With that in mind, West Ham Zone takes a look at the top 10 most expensive West Ham signings of all time.
10. Kurt Zouma – £29.8m
Kurt Zouma joined West Ham United from Chelsea on August 28 2021, for a reported fee of £29.8m.
At the time, the defender was a smart addition for the Hammers, who needed added depth to their backline.
- Zouma was investigated for violence against his cat while he was with West Ham
- He was competing with Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna for a place in the side
Zouma made 103 appearances, scoring six goals for West Ham before he was loaned to Saudi Pro League club Al-Orobah in August 2024.
The France international didn’t return to East London, with his contract running until the summer of 2025.
9. Edson Alvarez – £35m
Edson Alvarez joined the Hammers in a deal worth £35m, with add-ons of £2.6m, from Ajax in August 2023.
He was joined by Mohammed Kudus from the Dutch giants in David Moyes’s last summer transfer window in charge.
He got off to a strong start at the London Stadium and linked up with his fellow ex-Ajax teammate, with the Hammers finishing ninth.
However, following Moyes’ departure at the end of the season, his form dropped, and this summer Alvarez was sent out on loan to Fenerbahce after a reported fallout with Graham Potter.
8. Jean-Clair Todibo – £35m
Jean-Clair Todibo was initially signed on loan by the Hammers, with a mandatory buy clause of £35m, according to Sky Sports.
The buy clause was triggered in the summer, with West Ham forcing themselves into a corner.
Todibo recently had a fallout with Potter and trained with the under-21s after arriving late for training.
So far, his signing looks like a waste of money, with the defender yet to show his capabilities since the switch from Juventus.
7. Gianluca Scamacca – £35.5m
West Ham paid £30.5m up front for Gianluca Scamacca in 2022, plus up to £5m in add-ons.
The striker joined from Italian Serie A side Sassuolo after impressing across youth levels for his national side and breaking into the first-team squad.
Scamacca’s form in East London was very hot and cold, with supporters never knowing what to expect from him.
Moyes never managed to get the best out of him, as he scored just three Premier League goals before heading to Atalanta and finding his form in his homeland in August 2023.
6. Felipe Anderson – £36m
Felipe Anderson arrived at West Ham with the reputation of being an old-fashioned Brazilian winger who liked to take on his man.
With his £36m move from Lazio, he brought plenty of flair.
During his tenure in East London, Anderson made 73 appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists across all competitions.
His form began to drift towards the end of his time with the Hammers, and in July 2021, Anderson returned to Lazio on a permanent deal for a reported fee of just £2.6m.
5. Mohammed Kudus – £38m
Kudus joined West Ham alongside Alvarez for £38m and instantly became a favourite at the London Stadium.
He became a creative outlet for the Irons in the 2023/24 campaign, scoring eight and assisting four.
However, his form dropped off in the 2024/25 season as he managed just eight goal contributions, and things turned sour.
The winger forced a move away to Tottenham for £55m in the summer and even turned up late to training after expressing his desire to leave.
4. Max Kilman – £40m
Max Kilman has reunited with Nuno Espirito Santo at West Ham.
The 28-year-old played under the Portuguese manager during their time at Wolves before he made the £40m switch to East London.
- West Ham have conceded the most in the Premier League
- They have now conceded eight goals from corners
Things haven’t gone too well since the move, having played in tough spells under Julen Lopetegui and Potter.
He has come under fire for his performances in recent weeks, but under Nuno he has an opportunity to return to form.
3. Mateus Fernandes – £42m
Mateus Fernandes signed in the summer for an initial £38m, rising to £42m, according to Sky Sports.
The Hammers were interested in him all summer, but had to wait until the last week of the transfer window to land his signature.
The 21-year-old was one of the few sparks in Southampton’s relegated side last season, and has started off well at West Ham.
Fernandes has so much potential, and in the future, he could make West Ham a lot of money should they choose to sell him.
2. Sebastian Haller – £45m
Sebastian Haller became well known for his goal-scoring at Eintracht Frankfurt before his £45m move to East London.
The striker had impressed on international duty with the Ivory Coast and looked unstoppable in front of goal before arriving at the London Stadium.
Haller was a main component in the attack under Manuel Pellegrini, but consistently flopped in front of goal, managing just 14 goals from 51 appearances.
When the Irons made the switch to Moyes, his career in East London was over, and he joined Ajax for just £18m.
1. Lucas Paqueta – £51m
The Hammers went all out to sign Lucas Paqueta from Lyon in a deal worth £51m in 2022.
Paqueta showed his loyalty to West Ham in the summer by not forcing a move away when offers were on the table.
| Stat | Lucas Paqueta |
| Appearances | 124 |
| Goals | 20 |
| Assists | 14 |
The Hammers’ tough run of form would have made it easy for him to leave, but it hasn’t all been doom and gloom for the Brazilian.
Paqueta was one of the key components in the Hammers’ European Conference League-winning side in 2023, and has been a key player for the Hammers.
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