Manor Solomon Joins West Ham in £7 Million Transfer, Aiming for Premier League Success

Manor Solomon, captain of the Israeli national football team, officially signed a three-year contract with West Ham United on Monday. The London club acquired him from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £7 million, including bonuses. His father, Yossi Solomon, expressed pride and excitement about the permanent transfer, emphasizing that Manor wanted to continue his career in England rather than move elsewhere. "This is what we wanted - to be in England," Yossi told "5 BaAvir" news.

Several clubs, including Fiorentina and Al Hilal, showed interest in Solomon, but he chose West Ham for its stature, passionate fan base, and London location. Yossi highlighted West Ham's recent success, including winning the UEFA Conference League, and the hope that the club will return to the Premier League this season. He also noted that Manor has faced many injuries and bad luck in recent years but is eager to fulfill his potential at West Ham, where he was given the prestigious number 10 jersey, a sign of responsibility and trust.

Yossi also mentioned the significance of London as a stable home for Manor, who is now a father. He praised the professionalism of Manor’s agents in managing the transfer and downplayed comparisons to former Israeli West Ham players Yossi Benayoun and Eyal Berkovic, saying these were not decisive factors in the move. Regarding Manor’s departure from Tottenham, Yossi said the club decided to bring in other players for his position and that Manor, at his age, did not want to alternate between starting and bench roles. Despite strong performances in preseason, it became clear he would not be a regular starter, prompting the transfer.

The family hopes that Manor’s move will help him realize his potential and contribute to the growing presence of Israeli players in top European leagues, which they believe benefits Israeli football overall.