Aaron Wan-Bissaka issues thinly veiled Man Utd dig after completing £15m West Ham transfer

After weeks of rumours and speculation, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is finally unveiled as West Ham’s latest recruit after signing a seven-year contract with the London Stadium club. While West Ham have not confirmed the fee, the BBC reports that the former Manchester United defender was signed by the Hammers for £15 million.

Wan-Bissaka, 26, has made 190 appearances for the Red Devils after signing from Crystal Palace in 2019. However, upon his departure, he made a thinly veiled dig at his old club, stating his enthusiasm for working with a squad that ‘has got each other’s backs through thick and thin.’

Wan-Bissaka signed for the Red Devils for £50 million and was a frequent starter under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, following Erik ten Hag’s arrival in 2022, the former England youth star fell down the pecking order, and the defender now appears to be open about the seeming lack of support within the Old Trafford dressing room.

Speaking to the West Ham website following his confirmation as Julen Lopetegui’s latest defensive addition, the London-born defender stated: “It was a no-brainer for me to join West Ham – I’m excited and happy to be here.” I can’t wait to go on the pitch, get to know the players, and take it from there.

“It’s a great feeling to be back in London, and I’m looking forward to what comes next. I was born in London, so I know the ins and outs of the city, which has played an important role in my life, so returning to play here means a lot to me. I see a team that is in it together, that will push each other to win, and a bunch that has each other’s backs through thick and thin, so being a part of that and having that insurance is very beneficial when you are surrounded by a good squad.”

Tim Steidten, the club’s technical director, added to Wan-Bissaka’s sentiments, saying: “I’m glad we’ve been able to complete the deal to sign Aaron. He’s exactly the type of player we want to bring to the club during his prime years. He’s a tremendously talented defender who performs exceptionally well in one-on-one scenarios. He’s also versatile, which is certainly a plus.

Wan-Bissaka is West Ham’s seventh signing of the summer, joining Jean-Clair Todibo, Crycensio Summerville, Luis Guilherme, Niclas Fullkrug, Max Kilman, and Guido Rodriguez as Lopetegui seeks to significantly strengthen the Irons’ defensive department ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The former Red Devil’s first match as an Iron might come on Saturday, when the Hammers face Aston Villa in their opening Premier League match of the new season.