Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Malik Ouzia

West Ham complete Flynn Downes signing after beating Crystal Palace to £9m deal

Flynn Downes has signed for West Ham

(Picture: West Ham)

West Ham have completed the signing of Swansea City midfielder Flynn Downes in a £9million transfer.

The fee for the 23-year-old could eventually rise to £12m if various add-on clauses are met after the Europa League semi-finalists beat Crystal Palace to secure a deal.

Downes, who is a lifelong West Ham fan, completed his medical on Thursday morning and becomes David Moyes’ third major signing of the summer.

The Hammers boss has already brought in Rennes centre-back Nayef Aguerd and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who enjoyed a successful loan spell from PSG last term, as he targets at least six new additions in his quest to improve the depth and quality of his squad ahead of a second successive season in Europe.

Downes only joined Swansea last summer, having come through Ipswich Town’s youth academy before making his senior breakthrough at the club. He made 37 appearances for the Welsh side in the Championship last term, scoring once.

Moyes remains keen to make another central midfield signing to provide further competition to Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, having seen his options in the position reduced by the retirement of club captain Mark Noble and the end of Alex Kral’s unsuccessful loan spell.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.