Katie Zelem's move to West Ham made permanent | OneFootball

West Ham United have completed the permanent signing ofKatie Zelem from London City Lionesses.

The midfielder has penned a three-year contract with the Hammers to keep her at the club until the end of the 2028/29 season.

The former Manchester United captain made the switch to the NWSL in 2024 before returning to England to join London City Lionesses at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

After just 11 matches with London City, Zelem moved on loan to West Ham midway through the season where she featured nine times for the club.

"From the moment I arrived, I felt so welcome and appreciated – West Ham feels like home," the 30-year old said about making the move permanent.  "I’ve found a second family here and that made this decision a lot easier.

"I’m really comfortable here and I’m able to be my true authentic self. That allows me to give my best to the team in every game and make the impact that I know that I can.

"Being reunited with Rita [Guarino, manager] has helped me settle into the Club too – it’s been amazing to reconnect. She’s seen me grow from a 21-year-old into a 30-year-old, and we have a great relationship and level of trust both on and off the pitch.

"On reflection, I think we had an exceptional second half of the season. We picked up important points and stayed focused on climbing the table, which shows the character of this group. We showed our potential and I’m looking forward to continuing that journey next season."