
EPL Index
·26 Juli 2025
‘Personal Terms Agreed’ – West Ham United Set to Sign Premier League Forward

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·26 Juli 2025
Callum Wilson is on the verge of joining West Ham United after agreeing personal terms with the East London club, according to talkSPORT. The 33-year-old striker has been a free agent since his departure from Newcastle United earlier this summer, and it now appears that his next chapter will be under Graham Potter’s stewardship at the London Stadium.
In what looks to be a low-risk, potentially high-reward deal, West Ham have reportedly offered Wilson a performance-based contract. As talkSPORT revealed, “West Ham are believed to have responded with an offer to the striker of a minimal salary with bonuses for goals and appearances.” This mirrors the offer he turned down from Newcastle, described as a “pay-as-you-play style deal”.
Despite interest from Leeds United and clubs in Saudi Arabia, Wilson appears to favour remaining in the Premier League. His agent, Will Salthouse, leveraged an existing relationship with West Ham co-owner David Sullivan to facilitate talks. That connection seems to have been pivotal, especially as Wilson seeks to prove he can still contribute at the highest level.
Wilson’s time at Newcastle was a mixture of highs and persistent injury challenges. Signed for £20 million from Bournemouth in 2020, he made 130 appearances and scored 49 goals. His crowning moment came last season when he helped Newcastle lift the Carabao Cup, ending a 70-year trophy drought. Yet, his individual form took a downturn.
Reflecting candidly on his final season, Wilson wrote in the matchday programme, “As a collective, it’s been one of the best campaigns and teams I’ve been a part of – yet individually, it’s been one of my worst seasons.”
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Limited to just 20 appearances and a solitary goal last term, Wilson found himself behind Alexander Isak in the pecking order. Injuries continued to disrupt his rhythm, and the rise of Isak left little room for the England international to regain a starting berth.
If the deal is completed, Wilson will become West Ham’s third signing of the summer following El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters. French centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo has also joined permanently after a successful loan spell.
The inclusion of an experienced forward like Wilson could provide West Ham with vital depth and leadership in attack, especially with European competition likely on the horizon. He brings not only a proven track record but also recent experience in the punditry world, having worked on DAZN’s coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup.
At 33, this is arguably Wilson’s final opportunity to extend his Premier League journey. The minimal base salary deal suits both parties. West Ham acquire an established forward with no transfer fee attached, and Wilson has the chance to earn based on performance.
Time will tell if this proves a masterstroke by Graham Potter or a nostalgic gamble. But for now, the deal looks smart and calculated.
This feels like another short-term patch job rather than a visionary move. Yes, Callum Wilson has pedigree, but this is a striker who openly admitted his last season was “one of my worst”. That hardly inspires confidence in a side that needs consistent firepower, not a fading name.
Fans have seen this pattern before. We bring in experienced players past their peak on structured deals, only to watch them spend more time on the treatment table than on the pitch. The fact that Wilson’s offer is appearance- and goals-based suggests even the club is hedging its bets.
There’s also concern over whether Wilson fits Graham Potter’s pressing, dynamic style. Can a 33-year-old with recurring injuries keep up with that intensity? Or will he become another passenger in a squad already reliant on patchy fitness records?
What’s more, Leeds and Saudi clubs were interested, but not seriously enough to make a decisive move. That tells you everything about his market value. Wilson is an intelligent professional, no doubt, but this isn’t 2021 Callum Wilson. If he hits form, it’s a bonus, but if this is our marquee striker signing, ambition might be lacking again.