West Ham are enjoying one of their most fruitful spells for decades, regularly featuring in European competition, giving the Irons a hefty transfer budget.
Coupled with their record-breaking sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal, and increased gate receipts from their plush Queen Elizabeth Stadium home, West Ham have not been shy to splash the cash in recent transfer windows.
West Ham most expensive signings: The top 5
| West Ham most expensive signings | Joined from | Fee | Goals (Apps) | Honours with club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sébastien Haller (ST) | Eintracht Frankfurt | £43m | 10 (48) | None |
| 🏴Max Kilman (CB) | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £40m | 0(0) | None |
| Mohamed Kudus (RW) | Ajax | £37m | 8 (33) | None |
| Lucas Paqueta (CM) | Olympique Lyonnais | £37m | 8 (59) | UEFA Europa Conference League (2023) |
| Gianluca Scamacca (ST) | Sassuolo | £33m | 3 (16) | UEFA Europa Conference League (2023) |
1) Sébastien Haller – £43m
Topping our list is the Irons' 2019 record signing, Sébastien Haller.
The Ivorian joined from Eintracht Frankfurt for £43m, ostensibly as an upgrade on incumbent centre-forward Michail Antonio.
Haller had some moments of brilliance in a West Ham shirt, but was ultimately incompatible with the direct style of play employed by David Moyes, and he was unable to displace Antonio.
Haller departed for Ajax in a move worth £19m in January 2021, and has had success elsewhere.
2) Max Kilman – £40m
The most recent signing on our list is Max Kilman, who has joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
New Irons boss Julen Lopetegui was a big fan of Kilman when he managed him during his spell at the Black Country club, so much so that he has persuaded his new employers to spend big on him.
Kilman is a tidy left-footed centre-back who is tall and powerful.
3) Mohammed Kudus – £37m
A smash hit signing from last summer, West Ham spent a sizable chunk of the fee they received for Declan Rice on then-Ajax star Mohammed Kudus.
The Ghanaian international had a stellar first season, scoring 14 and assisting a further six in all competitions.
The Black Star is a magician in the final third and is a threat in multifarious ways.
Kudus will be looking forward to playing more attacking football under new boss Lopetegui.
4) Lucas Paqueta – £37m
Despite strong links to Arsenal, West Ham were the ones to swoop for Lucas Paqueta in 2022.
The left-footed Brazilian midfielder has brought a different level of quality to the Irons, from cheeky nutmegs and sumptuous through balls, to goals from distance or slaloms through opposition lines.
Paqueta was key to West Ham's 2023 Conference League triumph and, like Kudus, will be looking forward to playing under Lopetegui.
5) Gianluca Scamacca – £37m
After Haller failed to replace Antonio, West Ham turned to Gianluca Scamacca, who joined for £37m from Sassuolo, who had just scored 16 in 25 Serie A games and came with a reputation for scoring stunning goals.
But it was ultimately a case of deja vu for West Ham, as Antonio re-established himself as the Club's first-choice striker.
Scamacca struggled in the isolated, channel-running role the West Ham striker often had to perform under David Moyes. He scored just three league goals.
The 25-year-old returned to Italy with Atalanta for £22m last summer, where he won the 2023/24 Europa League.
