West Ham’s transfer window closed with its usual mix of drama — one new face through the door, and two heading out.
The incoming was Igor Julio from Brighton, the 27-year-old Brazilian centre-back joining on a season-long loan. Graham Potter hailed his experience and Premier League know-how, calling him a player who can “add to what we already have here.”
On the way out? Nayef Aguerd, who sealed a permanent switch to Marseille, where he links up with ex-Hammer Emerson Palmieri. Signed for £30 million from Rennes back in 2022, Aguerd never quite hit the heights expected and spent last season on loan with Real Sociedad.
But it was the other exit that caused chaos — one that nearly didn’t happen at all.
Cornet’s Genoa Drama
Maxwel Cornet has officially joined Serie A outfit Genoa on loan for the 2025/26 season — but not before the deal turned into a farcical deadline-day mix-up.
The Ivorian winger, described as “brilliant” by Potter, returns to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris for a second spell after featuring seven times under Patrick Vieira last season.
Yet for a few hours, Hammers fans and Genoa supporters alike weren’t sure the deal had gone through.
Genoa prematurely released a video announcing Cornet’s arrival, then bizarrely deleted it. With no sign of the contract being registered before the window slammed shut, panic set in.
In the end, the mystery was solved. According to Football Italia, a technical error with Serie A’s registration system had delayed confirmation. Once cleared up, Genoa reposted the original video, this time leaning into the chaos with a popcorn motif — a playful nod to Cornet’s name and the theatrics of his “Popcornet” second coming.
For West Ham, it’s one more departure from an already thin squad. For Cornet, it’s another chance to reignite his career in Italy.
