West Ham United have announced the signing of midfielder Mohamadou Kante from Ligue 2 club Paris FC.
The 18-year-old, who passed his medical at the beginning of the week, joins the Hammers on a permanent deal and has penned a five-year contract, but he will be loaned back to Paris FC for the 2024-25 campaign.
Kante becomes West Ham's ninth signing of the summer transfer window after Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham, Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville, Guido Rodriguez, Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
West Ham United have signed promising French midfielder Mohamadou Kanté from Ligue 2 club Paris FC ⚒️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 22, 2024
The 18-year-old joins the Club on a five-year contract and will return to Paris FC on loan for the 2024/25 season. pic.twitter.com/O0cjSevy0p
However, the teenager is viewed by the Hammers as an academy signing and one for the future who will be looking to break into the first-team squad at Paris FC this season.
Kante is yet to make his senior debut for Paris FC, but he has featured regularly for the club's Under-19s and B team.
The midfielder has made a total of 31 youth-team appearances in all tournaments, chipping with five goals.
Are West Ham still active in transfer market?
West Ham were strongly linked with signing Mohamadou's namesake N'Golo Kante from Al Ittihad earlier this summer, but it now seems that the ex-Chelsea midfielder will remain in Saudi Arabia.
Julen Lopetegui's is still looking to strengthen his first-team squad, though, before the August 30 deadline, and is believed to be prioritising the addition of a new midfielder.
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West Ham keen to sign Soler
Recent reports have suggested that West Ham are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal to sign Carlos Soler, who is valued at around £20m.
However, The Guardian claims that the Hammers are 'keeping a careful watch' on their finances having already spent in excess of £100m on new signings this summer, and they will need to offload players before making further additions.
West Ham will hope to reduce their wage bill with the departure of defender Kurt Zouma, although his proposed move to UAE outfit Shabab Al-Ahli remains up in the air after failing a medical.
The Hammers are also said to be seeking buyers for centre-back Nayef Aguerd and winger Maxwel Cornet, while they will listen to offers for attacking duo Danny Ings and Michail Antonio, who are both on high wages.
