Manor Solomon Chooses West Ham for Premier League Return and Stability in London

Manor Solomon, captain of the Israeli national football team, is set to join West Ham United on a permanent transfer, marking his second permanent move in his career. The transfer was first reported by Sport 5 on August 8, 2026. Solomon’s decision to join West Ham is influenced primarily by the club’s location in London, where he has previously played for Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, and where he prefers to continue living.

West Ham, a club with a strong history that has rebounded from relegation, offers Solomon a "trial year" as a starting player. If the team secures promotion to the Premier League, Solomon is expected to remain with the club. The club has a positive history with Israeli players, including Yossi Benayoun and Eyal Berkovic, and the English football environment is considered more welcoming to Israeli players compared to Spain.

West Ham sought a winger after selling Cristhian Summerville to Saudi Arabia. Solomon was chosen over other candidates like Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson and Sunderland’s Simon Adingra, partly due to his Championship experience and his successful previous replacement of Summerville at Leeds United. Tottenham demanded a €10 million transfer fee, matching Fiorentina’s purchase option, while West Ham offered around £5 million plus bonuses, ultimately reaching an agreement with additional appearance-based bonuses and a promotion bonus.

Israeli football star Pini Zahavi personally facilitated the deal alongside Solomon’s agents Shlomi Ben Ezra and Ronen and Gilad Katzav. Ronen Katzav explained that Solomon seeks a significant and consistent role, which seemed unlikely at Tottenham. Fiorentina, where Solomon was loaned last season, wanted to sign him permanently but at a lower price than Tottenham’s demand. Other Premier League, Spanish, and French clubs showed interest, but Solomon preferred to stay in England.

Solomon is expected to replace Summerville as a starting winger, a role he excelled in at Leeds. Both players share similar profiles as left-sided wingers who cut inside and contribute offensively. West Ham hopes for a quick adaptation period. Solomon is the club’s most important signing this transfer window, and the retention of star Jarrod Bowen and coach Nuno Espírito Santo, who favors wing play, indicates the club’s ambition to return to the Premier League swiftly.

Solomon participated in Tottenham’s preseason and is expected to feature in upcoming matches. Maccabi Petah Tikva, Solomon’s youth club, will receive solidarity payments estimated at around €180,000, as they are not entitled to transfer fees but benefit from FIFA’s solidarity mechanism based on the transfer amount excluding bonuses.