West Ham snatch Kyle Walker-Peters on three-year deal after Besiktas U-turn | OneFootball

Kyle Walker-Peters is on the verge of joining West Ham United on a three-year contract following the breakdown of his proposed move to Besiktas.

The full-back, who is a free agent after leaving Southampton, has agreed terms with the Hammers and is expected to complete the switch in the coming days.

Besiktas had been in advanced talks with Walker-Peters and had scheduled a medical, but the move fell through when the 28-year-old asked to delay his travel to Istanbul.

The Turkish club responded by pulling out of the deal entirely and later confirmed in a statement that they had withdrawn from negotiations.

West Ham, who were monitoring the situation closely, moved quickly to revive their long-standing interest in the defender.

Talks accelerated this week, and the club has now reached a full verbal agreement with the player.

Barring any late complications, Walker-Peters will sign a deal running until June 2028 and become the third senior addition under new manager Graham Potter.

The two-cap England international brings Premier League experience and versatility to a West Ham side in need of defensive reinforcements.

Having made 148 top-flight appearances across spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, he is seen as a reliable option capable of playing on either flank.

His arrival helps fill the void left by the departures of Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell.

Walker-Peters spent the 2024–25 season with Southampton in the Premier League, making 33 appearances and providing two assists. Despite their relegation, he remained one of the club’s most consistent performers and had been expected to move abroad before West Ham’s renewed push.

Walker-Peters will add further depth and balance to a defence that conceded 62 goals last season – the third most of any side that avoided relegation.

Potter views the signing as a crucial step in reshaping a side that finished 14th in the Premier League and struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.