West Ham Women make Ines Belloumou decision after Bayern Munich transfer
Ines Belloumou is yet to meet the requirements for an international player visa despite completing a transfer to West Ham United Women.
The Hammers reported on their official website (25 July) that although French under-23 international Belloumou has signed a three-year deal with the club, she will be loaned out to Lazio for the new season.
That’s due to the 23-year-old full-back still needing the necessary points to meet the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria for an international player visa, which she will accumulate in Italy.
Belloumou therefore will spend the 2024/25 campaign in Serie A Femminile before joining up with the Hammers next summer, giving manager Rehanne Skinner a year to wait before she can utilise her talents.
Ines Belloumou transfer delay highlights need for West Ham rebuild
Belloumou is the fourth new face through the doors at Victoria Road so far this summer, with Kinga Szemik, Shekiera Martinez and Camila Saez already on board as part of Skinner refreshing her squad.
The Hammers lost six key first-team players at the end of the last campaign, and filling the gaps left by the likes of previous captain MacKenzie Arnold is of paramount importance in the coming weeks.
Kirsty Smith could be a candidate to wear the armband for the club next season, but she would likely have benefitted from high-calibre back-up in the form of Belloumou.
However, due to the circumstances of Belloumou’s move, 30-year-old Smith will not be able to call upon the French youth international just yet – hardly ideal in a position which has long needed reinforcements.
Finishing second-bottom of the Women’s Super League – though still nine points above the relegation zone – must be improved on next season, and unfortunately for the Hammers, Belloumou will have to wait before she can be of help.
In other West Ham news, the club’s high-profile pursuit of Noussair Mazraoui is showing a change of mindset in the transfer market.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.