West Ham United have announced the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman.
Soon after it was confirmed that Julen Lopetegui would replace David Moyes in the Hammers dugout, speculation emerged that the Spaniard was prioritising a reunion with a player who he briefly worked with at Molineux.
Aside from one game, Kilman would complete 90 minutes in all of the other 22 Premier League fixtures that Lopetegui would oversee with the West Midlands outfit.
At one stage, it appeared that Wolves' £40m valuation of the 27-year-old would lead to West Ham turning their attention elsewhere, particularly when one of the bids made stood at £25m.
However, over the past 48 hours, West Ham made the decision to meet Wolves' asking price, subsequently leading to a transfer being finalised and announced on Saturday morning.
Kilman has penned a seven-year contract at the London Stadium and becomes the club's third signing of the summer after goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and winger Luis Guilherme.
© Reuters
What has Kilman had to say?
Speaking to the club's official website, Kilman acknowledged that reuniting with Lopetegui played a part in his decision to make the switch to the capital.
He said: "It's an amazing feeling to be a West Ham United player. As soon as I was aware of the interest from the club, it was an opportunity I was keen to pursue, so I couldn't be more delighted to be here.
"I really enjoyed working with Julen during his time at Wolves – he's a top-class coach and someone I learned a lot from, and I am confident I will continue to improve as a player under his management here.
Kilman added: "Having spoken at length to both Julen and Tim [Steidten], I was hugely encouraged about the ambition of the club and their plans for the future. They want to make a big noise here at West Ham and as a new player coming in, that's an incredible thing to hear."
We are delighted to announce the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers central defender Maximilian Kilman ✍️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) July 6, 2024
The 27-year-old has put pen to paper on a seven-year contract at London Stadium after spending six hugely successful years at Molineux.
Maidenhead United the big winners
For a player who they signed for £40,000, Wolves are getting an incredible deal for Kilman, despite the fact that he only missed one game during the last two Premier League campaigns and will be a big miss in the dressing room.
Furthermore, it remains to be seen whether cashing in on Kilman will increase their chances of retaining the services of Rayan Ait-Nouri and Pedro Neto, rather than selling either key man to strengthen their position with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Although Wolves have gotten substantial value for money from Kilman, who leaves having made 151 appearances in all competitions, non-league Maidenhead United are the undoubted big winners here.
The National League side inserted a sell-on clause when parting ways with Kilman in 2018. While that was initially believed to be 20%, it was allegedly renegotiated to 10% in recent days to help the transfer go through.
As a result, the Magpies will receive a windfall in the region of £4m, either as a straight fee or over a number of instalments depending on the terms of the deal.
