JUST OUT; Mystery Behind West Ham Cost in Recent Years

The world of football transfers is expensive business, especially if you get it wrong. West Ham have found that out to their cost in recent years with some signings that have cost them dear.

The likes of Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson were sold on for massive losses by West Ham. And £77m worth of investment Nayef Aguerd, James Ward-Prowse and Maxwel Cornet were loaned out on deadline day.

There have been some excellent signings too of course. And big profit made on homegrown captain Declan Rice last summer.

Hammers technical director Tim Steidten and head coach Julen Lopetegui will be hoping this summer’s arrivals prove excellent value for money.

West Ham made it clear from the outset this summer that they must cut their cloth accordingly due to strict PSR rules.

Those rules focus not only on transfer spending relative to income but equally on wages-to-turnover ratio too.

West Ham’s owners certainly backed their new boss in the transfer market. Nearly £155m has been spent on the nine new arrivals.

Two of those were on free transfers while a further free agent may yet be added before the Premier League squad deadline on September 14th.

West Ham’s squad currently has 23 senior players of the 25-man limit.

Twelve players have also left the club over the summer – making it a turnover of 21 players and counting.

Given the big spend and quality of signings, some might assume West Ham are now treading a thin line when it comes to PSR.

Indeed many observers are wondering just how the Hammers have managed to pull off what many are calling the club’s best ever window.

Well it may well be just that in more ways than one.

Because an astonishing revelation about the West Ham wage bill after the summer overhaul will shock fans. But in a positive context.

Top Hammers insider Sean Whetstone has revealed that around £31m has been added to West Ham’s wage bill this summer.

Remarkably, though, the club’s annual wage bill is now £4m less despite the increase in squad depth and quality.

That’s because a whopping £35.5m has been trimmed from the salary committments.

“The addition of nine players have added around £605,000 per week to the West Ham wage bill or £31.5m over the course of a whole season,” Whetstone revealed on X.

“The departure Phillips, Benrahma, Downes, Keher, Johnson, Ogbonna, Trott, Mubama and Anang have saved around £404,000 per week or £21m over a season.

“The outbound loans of Zouma, Ward Prowse, Aguerd and Cornet will save an additional £277,000 per week or £14.5m this season.

“Our net position should be around £4m less than last season without factoring any free agents that could sign leaving around £77,000 per week to match last season’s wage bill.”