Premier League: West Ham secure £40m signing of Max Kilman

West Ham have officially completed the signing of Wolves captain, Max Kilman, for a reported £40m fee. This deal will see Kilman commit to a seven-year contract with the East London club, marking Julen Lopetegui’s third signing during his tenure.

Kilman will join Luís Guilherme and Wes Foderingham as the Hammers’ new summer additions, bolstering the defence and adding leadership to Lopetegui’s squad.

Whether or not Kilman could be made captain is yet to be seen, though it is important to note that Lopetegui appointed Kilman as Wolves captain during his nine-month stint in the West Midlands.

As a result of this transfer, non-league club Maidenhead United, managed by ex-Hammer Alan Devonshire, are expected to receive a substantial fee due to their sell-on clause for Kilman.

Maidenhead sold Kilman to Wolves for £40,000 in 2018 and are expected to receive anywhere between £4m-£8m due to the defender’s move to West Ham – a fantastic bit of business from Devonshire’s side.

Kilman has already commented on his move to the club on West Ham’s official page, stating, “It’s an amazing feeling to be a West Ham United player. As soon as I was aware of the interest from the Club, it was an opportunity I was keen to pursue, so I couldn’t be more delighted to be here. I really enjoyed working with Julen during his time at Wolves – he’s a top-class coach and someone I learned a lot from, and I am confident I will continue to improve as a player under his management here.”

It was announced months ago that Lopetegui would primarily look to strengthen the defence, already taking action with the signing of his formerly appointed captain. Another player the Hammers are reportedly interested in is Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters.

The impact of West Ham’s Technical Director, Tim Steidten, has been incredible during his year-long tenure. His ability to get deals done swiftly and negotiate effectively is largely the reason why West Ham signed Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez last summer, with both players having held interest from European giants like Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

While Kilman may not have been sought out by Europe’s elite, the speed at which this deal concluded has been a stunning change of pace from what West Ham fans are used to. Three signings before Deadline Day would typically be seen as a stretch, yet here they are with three before August.

Speaking to West Ham’s official website, Kilman noted the influence of Steidten on getting the deal over the line and explained that he was encouraged by the club’s ambition.

As previously mentioned, the influence of Steidten cannot be understated, and it seems as if West Ham’s Technical Director is ecstatic over the acquisition of Kilman.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Steidten stated, “We’re delighted to have secured Max’s signature – he was one of our top targets in the central defensive area in this transfer window, so we couldn’t be happier to have completed the deal to bring him to West Ham United. This is a serious and notable moment for West Ham United – the signing of an established, proven English Premier League central defender in the peak years of his career.”

While many may see this transfer and immediately notice the £40m price tag, signing such a proven defender in his peak years for this fee may just be a steal – especially a player that is captain at their club.

“He has many great qualities as a defender. He’s a strong, powerful centre-back, who possesses the leadership qualities that are so important in that area of the pitch,” Steidten added. “Julen and I have spoken at length about the kind of characters we want to bring to West Ham, and Max fits the bill. His arrival shows the ambition of the Board to bring big players to the Football Club. I’m sure the West Ham fans are as excited as we all are about this signing.”