Michelle Heyman lifts lid on collapsed West Ham United Women transfer after contract update
Michelle Heyman has lifted the lid on her collapsed move to West Ham United after speculation linked her with a move to East London.
The 36-year-old Australian international has re-signed with Canberra United after her contract with the A-League side expired at the end of the season.
However, the forward has admitted she held talks with the Hammers over a potential move to the WSL this summer after a photo leaked on social media of her in a claret and blue shirt.
Speaking to A-Leagues on Wednesday (4 September) she said: “I was cracking up I thought it was perfect timing. I’ve been out of the newspapers for a few days, so it was lovely, you know, to see my head back in there. Good for the Instagram.
“And, yeah, I was, you know, giggling because, you know, at that point, I’ve had the conversation with West Ham, and things just didn’t line up the way that we both wanted it to.
“I spent a couple of days in London doing everything because we thought it was happening. It was a little bit of a slip-up but we all make mistakes and I don’t think it was a big mistake, because it was kind of good for me, and to get the talk about myself so it was funny in the long run.
“But I really loved dealing with West Ham. They were great people. And the league is incredible. The deal was just to December and for myself, if I was to sign that deal, the transfer windows wouldn’t allow me to play in Australia.
“So it was a big decision on myself if I was to sign this contract with West Ham, then I wouldn’t be able to play football until April, when the season’s over was when the next window was going to be open.
“I would have had to move again and live overseas, somewhere else to continue a footballing contract.”
Are West Ham United Women close to any new signings in the summer transfer window?
West Ham could have certainly done with a player like Heyman in their ranks heading into the new WSL season, especially as a move to East London appears to have been so close to completion.
The veteran forward is the W-League’s all-time-leading goalscorer and her class in the final third would have been a major boost to Rehane Skinner’s side as they look to climb the table this term.
In 22 league appearances for Canberra United last term, the 36-year-old scored 17 goals and laid on seven assists before impressing for Australia in the Olympic Games where she scored and assisted.
Hopefully, the Hammers will manage to find a source of goals as reliable as the striker to replace Heyman before the season gets underway.
Only relegated Bristol City found the net less times than the Irons last term so it is clear that some more firepower is needed.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have been urged to “take a punt” on a former Champions League winner over the international break
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