West Ham United have secured their first summer window signing and will transfer almost €10 million to Barcelona as part of the deal.
Graham Potter’s side have had a difficult season, and although they are assured of relegation, they will finish the Premier League season low down the table.
Read: Gives Liverpool supporters new hope for continuation with Alexander-Arnold!
Todibo’s transition becomes permanent
Planning for a better next season is already underway, and Jean-Clair Todibo will be a regular part of the squad after his loan from Nice has now been made permanent.
The French defender has made just 23 Premier League appearances for West Ham since joining from the INEOS-owned Ligue 1 club last summer, but has been given more game time since Potter took over as manager in January.
The deal with Nice meant that the transfer would be permanent if West Ham avoided relegation – something that was secured at the weekend when Ipswich were relegated.
Barcelona profits from the sale
West Ham will now pay €42 million to Nice, but Barcelona have a 20% stake in the transfer fee, meaning the cash-strapped Catalans will get a welcome €8.5 million for the centre-back.
This amount matches what Nice paid for Todibo in 2021, when he left Camp Nou after a turbulent period in which he felt he was not getting the playing time he deserved.
The money is an important financial boost for Barcelona, who are trying to get back to a better Financial Fair Play (FFP) situation after the controversy surrounding the registration of Dani Olmo.
Todibo believes in Potter
Todibo has expressed confidence that Potter can turn West Ham’s fortunes around, despite the fact that results have not been convincing under the former Chelsea manager.
Read on F7: Four days before the Bodø/Glimt match, Tottenham have started planning the Europa League final
In an interview at the weekend, he said:
“We’ve felt a lot of frustration, that’s clear, and we have to work harder – but we’re on the right track. We just need more time with this manager because when the positive things in the game come, the results will follow.”
Todibo is West Ham’s first summer window signing, but the club is expected to be far more active in the transfer market in the coming months.
