Kyle Walker-Peters has joined West Ham on a free transfer after turning down Besiktas.
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| CREDIT: West Ham United FC |
West Ham United have completed the signing of Kyle Walker-Peters on a free transfer following his departure from Southampton.
The 28-year-old full-back has signed a three-year deal and will wear the number 2 shirt for the Hammers.
Walker-Peters, who began his career at Tottenham and made over 200 appearances for Southampton, was close to joining Turkish side Besiktas under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He delayed his medical after interest from West Ham intensified, eventually turning down the move to Turkey in favour of returning to London. The key factor behind his decision? Graham Potter.
“I spoke to Graham Potter and he was a big, big part of me making the decision,” said Walker-Peters.
I’ve always liked his style as a coach and I think it will suit me well. He spoke about a family feel at the club, and that’s what I’m all about.
Potter, who recently took charge at West Ham, was equally enthusiastic.
He is a player I’ve always thought highly of and been impressed by whenever he has faced one of my teams. He has a really good pedigree, a top professional, and still has his best years in front of him.
West Ham’s summer business has been slow, but the signing of Walker-Peters adds much-needed quality and depth.
He joins El Hadji Malick Diouf and Jean-Clair Todibo as the club looks to rebuild its defence after selling Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham for £55 million.
Kyle Walker-Peters' switch to West Ham is more than just a solid free transfer. It’s a quiet statement of intent from Graham Potter.
Walker-Peters had options. Besiktas, a club with European ambitions and led by a notable manager in Solskjaer, was ready to bring him in. But the defender chose to stay in the Premier League, and more importantly, chose Potter.
It speaks volumes that a player with over 200 top-flight games and international experience turned down a Turkish move because of a manager’s vision.
Potter is building something rooted in trust, familiarity, and a style of football that appeals to intelligent, modern players. He’s already coached players like Evan Ferguson and is now assembling a squad that blends ambition with stability.
For West Ham, this is a savvy move. A free agent with experience, positional flexibility, and the hunger to be part of a new project.
It’s a low-risk, high-value acquisition, and one that could quietly become a foundation piece of Potter’s era.
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