Katie Zelem reunites with former boss Guarino after West Ham loan move | OneFootball

Katie Zelem (West Ham United)

Katie Zelem has signed for West Ham United on loan from London City Lionesses until the end of the season.

It means a reunion between the midfielder and Hammers head coach Rita Guarino, who won the 2017-18 Serie A title together at Juventus.

In her first interview with West Ham TV, Zelem said that the chance to work with Guarino again was a crucial part of her decision to join West Ham.

“I want to be successful here and use my experience to help the team as much as possible,” she said in quotes circulated to the media. “I know that there’s a great group of girls in the building and we have a solid foundation to build on for the rest of the season.

“I’ve also worked with Rita before at Juventus so she was a big factor in me joining the club. I like her style of play and what she’s trying to build here. We have always had a good relationship and it’s really nice to be reunited.”

For her part, Guarino added: “I’m delighted to be working with Katie again, having worked with her in Italy.

“She is a talented player with several years of experience and success in the WSL. Her ability to dictate play from the centre of the pitch, as well as her set-piece expertise are strengths to her game that will be real assets for us.

“She also knows what it takes to compete at the highest level which will add huge value to this group of players. Katie sets and drives standards on and off the pitch, and will help us to perform to the standards that we want to be at for the remainder of the season.”

Katie Zelem: her football career so far

Katie Zelem has almost 150 WSL appearances to her credit. She won back-to-back league titles with Liverpool before moving to Juventus and helping them to the title too.

In her time at Manchester United, where she was club captain, she won promotion from the second tier to the top flight, and lifted the Women’s FA Cup at Wembley in 2024.

Zelem joined London City Lionesses in the summer from Angel City FC of the NWSL.

She has also been capped 12 times by England, and was part of the 2023 Women’s World Cup squad that finished as runners-up to Spain.