Joel Piroe has completed his move from Leeds United to West Ham on loan, with the Hammers obliged to make the transfer permanent if they secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Piroe finished as the Championship’s top scorer during Leeds’ promotion campaign, but his fortunes changed after the Whites returned to the top flight and he slipped down the pecking order.
The Dutchman failed to score in the Premier League last season and was widely expected to leave Elland Road this summer. His departure now gives Leeds another squad space to work with as they continue their search for a new striker before the transfer window closes.
There were fears that Leeds would price him out of an exit due to their £16m asking price. However, the Whites have made major compromises to let him leave.
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Leeds United are getting significantly less money for Joel Piroe
It emerged last week that West Ham were in talks with Leeds to sign the striker on loan with an obligation to buy if they win back promotion to the Premier League.
There were reports that the Hammers would be ready to pay a fee of £15m if Piroe fired them back to the Premier League at the end of the 2026/27 season.
However, with the deal now confirmed, it has emerged that Leeds are getting significantly less money for the forward’s departure.
According to Sky Sports News reporter Zinny Boswell, the overall value of the deal if Piroe joins West Ham on a permanent deal will not be more than £12m.
Leeds are getting a loan fee for him, and West Ham will have to fork out an £8m fee for Piroe if they win back promotion.
It is significantly less than their initial £16m asking price. However, they were not finding any takers for Piroe at that price.
Leeds have eventually compromised to ensure they get rid of the striker this summer.
Daniel Farke didn’t fancy Piroe as a Premier League striker
Joel Piroe finished the 2024/25 season as the Championship’s top scorer and was one of the key figures in Leeds United’s promotion back to the Premier League.
But Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s arrival last summer quickly changed his standing at Elland Road. Piroe slipped down the pecking order and found regular playing time increasingly difficult to come by.
He effectively became fourth choice among Leeds’ attacking options, despite the squad not even having four natural centre-forwards. It was a clear indication that Daniel Farke did not see him as a striker capable of leading the line in the Premier League.
Farke has always recognised Piroe’s quality in front of goal, but he also had concerns about the Dutchman’s mobility and physicality at the highest level.
Now that Piroe has completed his move to West Ham, his time at Elland Road is officially over. His departure also leaves Leeds with another spot to fill as they continue their search for a new striker.
I think that’s a fair price. He isn’t PL quality. Like Leeds West Ham know he will hit 20 plus goals and get them promoted. We did exactly the same with him.