With half of the season complete, we take a look at how West Ham’s loan players have fared with their new club’s this year.
In the January transfer window we saw four players go out on loan to try and find regular playing time with other clubs.
The likes of Goncalo Cardoso, Oladapo Afolayan and Ajibola Alese departed the Hammers. West Ham hero Winston Reid also went out on loan to Brentford after returning from the MLS.
However, the club still has four other players out on loan (including Reid) – who left at the beginning of the season.
So therefore, we take a look into how these four players have fared with their new clubs and whether or not they are having a successful season so far.
Felipe Anderson – FC Porto
After losing his place in the starting XI under David Moyes, West Ham’s second most expensive player left on loan to Porto in September.
However, Felipe Anderson has had a poor season in Portugal so far and has struggled to make an impact. The 27-year-old has made only one start in the league for them.
Anderson has now featured only five times in all competitions, with zero goals and assists. He started in a Champions League match against Olympiakos but struggled to impress during the game.
After arriving at West Ham for £36m in July 2018, he was dubbed to be our next best player but scored only 12 goals in 72 appearances – before falling out of favour at the club.
With our current squad doing so well, he now looks set to be on his way out of West Ham when his current loan deal expires – with a permanent transfer to Porto looking unlikely also.
Xande Silva – Aris Thessaloniki FC
23-year-old Portugese winger, Xande Silva, was loaned out to Greek side Aris Thessaloniki in October.
He has been a regular for West Ham’s U23 side in the past, after we signed him for £1.4m in 2018, but has struggled to find first-team minutes since arriving.
However, his time in Greece has proved worthwhile, having appeared 16 times in the Super League this season – starting seven of those games. He has now scored two goals, including one against AEK Athens last weekend.
Our current first team is filled with wingers right now, so it could be hard for Silva to break into Moyes’ starting XI anytime soon.
However, the tricky youngster definitely has benefited from this loan move and has lots of potential, which is great news for the club.
There could definitely be a future for him at West Ham.
Winston Reid – Brentford FC
West Ham icon Winston Reid has struggled for regular first-team minutes since sustaining a serious knee injury almost three years ago.
When he had returned to fitness he was sent out on loan to the MLS in February to play for Sporting Kansas City. Out there he started 10 games, helped them to the play-offs and even grabbed himself a goal.
A successful spell in America finished after he helped his team to reach the quarter-finals before losing out to Minnesota United 3-0.
Since returning to London, however, he has found himself far down in the pecking order, with four other central defenders more likely to start ahead of him.
Now he has joined Championship side Brentford until the rest of the season, and has already featured twice off the bench. This will be a great opportunity for him to find regular playing time.
While his career at West Ham may be over, his loan spell in America was successful and he has now begun another.
Fans will always remember what a great servant he has been.
Olatunji Akinola – Leyton Orient
West Ham’s last long-term loanee is Olatunji Akinola, who is on loan with League Two side Leyton Orient. He arrived there back in October and has impressed since, helping them to 10th place in the league table.
He has appeared 17 times since joining the London club, and has now started their last six games as a central defender – keeping five clean sheets during that time.
After losing his place in the starting XI over the festive period, he has made good on his return – keeping composed at the back and preventing opponents from scoring goals.
This loan spell has most definitely been a positive one, as Akinola continues to impress under manager Ross Embleton.
While first-team chances are limited for him right now at West Ham, this is the best place for him to develop his abilities – and he has a bright future ahead of him.
Other players who left in January:
Ajibola Alese – Cambridge United (England/League Two)
Oladapo Afolayan – Bolton Wanderers (England/League Two)
Goncalo Cardoso – FC Basel (Switzerland/Super League)
