West Ham United have beaten Juventus to the signing of Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo and the Frenchman’s arrival for around £34 million will pave the way for Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos to leave the Premier League outfit.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
During an ambitious summer of heavy spending at the London Stadium, Julen Lopetegui’s side are set to formally announce another deal which, later down the line, could take their off-season investments to within the region of £150 million.
After signing Luis Guilherme, Crysencio Summerville, Nicolas Fullkrug and Lopetegui’s former Wolves captain Max Kilman on big fees, West Ham United have now snatched Jean-Clair Todibo from under the noses of Italian giants Juventus.
HITC understands that Todibo, as of Saturday morning, has completed his medical and put pen to paper.
The ball-playing French centre-half was pictured flying to London the previous evening alongside Hammers director Tim Steidten, via Fabrizio Romano, agreeing personal terms with the capital city club while bringing an end to those drawn out discussions with the Bianconeri.
Jean-Clair Todibo will be confirmed at West Ham United
HITC can also confirm that, while Todibo will join on an initial loan, he will have a £34 million option-to-buy clause included in his contract.
This will make Todibo the second-most expensive signing of the Lopetegui era, behind potential new centre-half partner Kilman.
Fellow suitors Juventus, in contrast, were way off meeting Nice’s 40 million euro asking price. Thus, allowing West Ham to nip in and secure a player who might have been on his way to Manchester United instead.
That was before UEFA ruled that United would not be permitted to sign players from the similarly Ineos-controlled Nice outfit.
Todibo’s imminent arrival, meanwhile, continues a dramatic re-structuring of West Ham’s backline.
Despite finishing ninth, only the relegated trio of Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United conceded more goals than The Hammers’ 74 in 2023/24.
And, by the time the new campaign kicks off with Lopetegui now in the seat that David Moyes made his own, West Ham’s four senior centre-halves from the previous season may have departed.
Two more defenders could go alongside Kurt Zouma
Veteran Angelo Ogbonna has been released.
Captain Kurt Zouma is on his way too. HITC understands that United Arab Emirates-based outfit Shabab Al-Ahli will take Todibo’s compatriot off West Ham’s books with just one year left on his contract.
The former Chelsea man’s departure will free up around £100,000-a-week in The Hammers’ wage bill.
HITC have been told that Aguerd and Mavropanos will also now be allowed to go with Todibo on his way. The former arrived from Rennes for around £30 million in 2022, the latter joining one year later after a £19 million fee was agreed with Stuttgart.
Aguerd impressed initially but struggled last term. Mavropanos, meanwhile, did little to suggest Arsenal made a mistake letting him go with some high-profile errors and a nervy streak in possession.
Both defenders would likely struggle for minutes once Todibo joins Kilman at the London Stadium. The former, a right-footer, should slot in nicely next to a man who spent years playing as the left-sided centre-half at Molineux.
Still only 24, Todibo excelled at Nice after a difficult couple of years and a series of loan spells.
He joined Spanish giants Barcelona from Toulouse back in 2019 but featured only a handful of times in La Liga. Todibo then had brief stints at Schalke and Benfica before putting down roots on the banks of the French Rivieira.
The post Exclusive: Todibo joins with West Ham letting £30m and £19m duo leave alongside Zouma appeared first on HITC.
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