West Ham United squad restructuring

West Ham United has undergone a significant squad overhaul under manager Nuno Espírito Santo, centered on the midfield. Following the £85 million sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham, the club invested £22 million to sign Belgian midfielder Arne Engels from Celtic.

Engels has transitioned from a shaky debut to becoming a key figure for the team. He has been credited with improving midfield balance through his defensive work, play reading, and set-piece delivery, contributing two assists in his first six appearances. Recruitment chief Nils Koppen stated the decision to go “all in” on Engels was motivated by the manager’s need for a player with a “big engine” to stabilize the pitch.

Alongside these new acquisitions, the club is managing the reintegration of several players. While Edson Alvarez, Soungoutou Magassa, and Maxwel Cornet were previously considered sidelined, Magassa has recently returned to the matchday squad for games against Fulham and Millwall, suggesting a potential reconciliation with the club.