Joel Piroe is expected to leave Leeds United before the end of the transfer window as West Ham push to finalise a deal to take him to the London Stadium.
Leeds are on the cusp of signing Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back Nico Elvedi as their fourth summer signing. However, they are working hard to shift several players out of Elland Road too.
Lucas Perrin will be in Italy today to complete the formalities of a loan move to Torino, and Sebastiaan Bornauw is on the verge of finalising a switch to Hamburg.
It emerged on Sunday that West Ham are in advanced negotiations with Leeds to secure a deal for the signature of Piroe before the end of the summer transfer window.
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West Ham agree to key condition for proposed Joel Piroe deal
It is clear from Daniel Farke’s decision to leave Piroe out of a couple of pre-season games that he wants the striker to leave Leeds this summer.
Piroe is open to a move to West Ham this summer despite not fulfilling his dream to score in the Premier League for Leeds.
According to TeamTalk, West Ham have agreed to pay Piroe’s full wages if Leeds give their consent to a loan with an obligation to buy.
The Hammers want to sign the forward from Leeds on loan and have offered to attach a £15m obligation to buy if they get promoted next season.
West Ham are determined to bounce straight back to the Premier League and are closing in on a striker who finished as the Championship’s top scorer when Leeds secured promotion in 2025.
They initially wanted to sign AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott, but shifted their focus to Piroe once it became clear that the Dutch club were demanding too much money.
His departure would also allow Leeds to bring in a proven back-up for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Joel Piroe never convinced Daniel Farke in the Premier League
Joel Piroe finished the 2024/25 campaign as the Championship’s top scorer and played a huge part in Leeds United securing promotion.
However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s arrival last summer quickly changed his situation. Piroe dropped down the pecking order and struggled to get regular minutes at Elland Road.
He effectively became fourth choice among Leeds’ attacking options, despite the club not having four natural centre-forwards. That made it clear Daniel Farke did not see him as someone capable of leading the line in the Premier League.
Farke has always praised Piroe’s finishing, but he has also pointed to the striker’s lack of mobility and physicality as potential problems at the highest level.
With Leeds still looking to bring in another forward, Piroe’s time at Elland Road now appears to be coming to an end.
If Piroe could run and put himself about, he’d be a top player. As it is he’ll probably just be a West Ham player.
Unless his contract is extended, how will a loan benefit us? He only has 1 year left on his contract so after the year on loan he is a free agent.