John Egan on verge of transfer as West Ham United development emerges
West Ham are close to signing former Sheffield United defender John Egan on a free transfer, according to ExWHUemployee.
The 31-year-old Republic of Ireland international’s contract at Bramall Lane ran out at the end of the 2023/24 season and he’s still not found a new club.
While former Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip is also being considered, there are understood to be some issues with his fitness history.
Ex wrote on 4 September: “It appears that John Egan is getting close to signing for the club.
“There was some concerns over Joel Matip’s fitness and whether he would be the appropriate back up option. That transfer seemed to have a number of obstacles ahead of it to get the deal done although it isn’t completely ruled out yet.
“We believe however that John Egan could be about to start a trial with the club ahead of a potential move.
“There will be a friendly behind closed doors in the coming days for him to prove his fitness it is thought and also for other players that are not in international duty to build up theirs.
“The friendly is thought to be tomorrow against Dagenham and Redbridge. The club hasn’t fully made a decision on whether they will go ahead with the signing but they are giving the Irish international a chance to prove he is the man with a deal likely to be offered afterwards.”
John Egan will be a decent appointment for West Ham
Egan’s potential move to the London Stadium makes sense given his experience in the Premier League with Sheffield United provides him with a familiarity with the league’s demands, which is crucial for the Hammers as they look to better on last season’s performances.
His consistent performances in both the Premier League and Championship highlight his reliability and adaptability, traits valuable for a squad aiming for stability and depth and a new defender is understood to be a priority.
By giving the Irishman a trial, West Ham can assess his current fitness levels, tactical fit and overall readiness without a financial commitment upfront.
This approach mitigates risk, allowing the club to evaluate Egan’s suitability for their system firsthand.
Moreover, with Egan being a free agent, the trial serves as a low-risk opportunity to potentially secure a proven defender who could bolster their backline, especially considering the physical demands of the Premier League and the need for rotation in a competitive season.
Fans are unlikely to be averse to it as the club made some shrewd signings when the window was open.
In other West Ham news, Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has been raving over Mohammed Kudus after what he saw him do.
