West Ham have announced the signing of Max Kilman and what Tim Steidten has told him is seriously exciting news.
The Hammers have now officially announced the signing of Max Kilman from Wolves.
After West Ham met with Julen Lopetegui, Hammers News revealed Kilman was one of four players on a list he wanted the club to try and sign.
Now the new West Ham head coach has got his man after weeks of negotiations with Wolves.
West Ham sealed the deal at a reported £40m with a third bid that does not include any add-ons.
Kilman, 27, has signed a seven-year deal at the London Stadium.
Signing a Premier League team’s captain in the prime of their career is neither easy nor cheap.
Especially when they are English.
Some West Ham fans uneasy over use of budget
The likes of Man United, Chelsea and Spurs have all been linked with Kilman in the recent past. And Italian side Napoli also made a bid for him last year.
It is yet another impressive West Ham coup for technical director Tim Steidten.
The German impressed last summer with the signings of Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez from Ajax for a bargain £72m combined.
The Kilman fee has raised eyebrows among some West Ham fans concerned the club are leaving themselves short in terms of transfer budget.
Particularly as the Hammers still need – and plan – to make another five signings.
But what Steidten has told Kilman is seriously exciting news for West Ham.
What Steidten told Kilman is seriously exciting for West Ham
Speaking in his first interview after being unveiled, Kilman revealed he had lengthy conversations with Steidten and Lopetegui.
The central defender spoke to the duo in-depth about West Ham’s plans and ambition.
And what he was told will have the Hammers faithful dreaming.
“West Ham is a massive club and I feel this is the natural next step forward in my career,” Kilman told the official website.
“Having spoken at length to both Julen and Tim, I was hugely encouraged about the ambition of the club and their plans for the future.
“They want to make a big noise here at West Ham and as a new player coming in, that’s an incredible thing to hear.”
West Ham backing up big talk with big action
That is the second time in a week Hammers fans have heard about the club looking to make a big noise.
At Lopetegui’s official unveiling on Monday he used those very same words.
The former Spain boss is already well known for demanding investment in the team at his clubs. That has been a source of comfort for Hammers fans since his appointment.
So to hear Lopetegui make his fierce ambitions public was hugely encouraging.
Better still Steidten then picked up the baton and ran with it, promising West Ham fans they are in for a big transfer window while insisting the club is in a good financial position to spend.
Now Kilman has revealed Steidten and Lopetegui have laid out their ‘big’ and ambitious plans to him too.
It comes after Brazilian attacker Luis Guilherme revealed Steidten laid out the club’s ambitious plans to build an exciting, new-look young West Ham side.
West Ham exclusively told Hammers News overnight what their next focus will be in the window.
As seems to be the case with any signing nowadays, some Hammers fans have raised doubts about Kilman’s quality and the fee.
But a top Wolves expert and journalist has allayed those fears with an in-depth take on the deal.