West Ham’s striker department has been a graveyard of failed signings in recent years.
From Sebastian Haller and Gianluca Scamacca, who both arrived for big money before being moved on, to Danny Ings, who joined past his peak, and Niclas Füllkrug, who is now heading for the exit after scoring just three goals — the position has been a long-running problem.
But perhaps the biggest let-down of all was Evan Ferguson’s short-lived spell in east London.
And now, a stunning revelation has emerged about how his move unfolded.
West Ham Warned About Signing Ferguson
Ferguson, once considered one of the Premier League’s brightest young forwards, joined West Ham on loan in February 2024.
Expectations were high, but his time at the London Stadium was nothing short of disastrous — eight appearances, no goals, and performances that never got close to the hype. He returned to Brighton in the summer with barely a trace left behind.
However, new information suggests the flop could have been avoided entirely.
According to a source who spoke directly to Claret & Hugh, West Ham completed the deal fully aware that Ferguson was nowhere near match-ready.
The insider revealed: “Ferguson was injured before he signed for West Ham and everybody knew it. He’d played 20 minutes for Brighton just before joining but was still not able to complete full training sessions.”
When asked if West Ham had been misled during negotiations, the response was damning: “Brighton told West Ham that the lad would not be fit to play a full game for at least six weeks. He wasn’t ready and never really got fit.”
And why proceed with the transfer anyway? The answer was blunt: “West Ham were desperate. They were warned against it.”
The revelation paints an alarming picture of the club’s recent recruitment strategy — one that has too often relied on panic, poor planning, and short-term thinking. With West Ham again hunting for a striker this January, fans will be hoping those mistakes are finally behind them.
