West Ham: Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma finally leave Hammers after deadline day drama and FIFA intervention
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ByOli Gent
Published 02/02/2024 at 18:31 GMT
Transfer deadline day’s most dramatic sagas finally found their resolution as Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma departed West Ham after FIFA intervened on both deals. The Spaniard and the Algerian were set to leave the London Stadium for Real Betis and Lyon respectively, but a hold up meant the transfers did not go through by the 11pm deadline.
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Transfer deadline day’s most dramatic sagas have finally found their resolution as Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma departed West Ham after FIFA intervened on both deals.
With the window slowly shutting on what had been an uncharacteristically quiet January transfer period in the Premier League, the Hammers were keen to offload two of their attacking midfield options, with Fornals lined up for a permanent switch to Real Betis, in his native Spain, while Benrahma was heading to Lyon on loan with an option to buy.
However, as the night wore on and the deadline drew nearer, it appeared that West Ham’s administration was not going to be completed for either deal, throwing both players’ moves in doubt and angering both Betis and Lyon.
After both clubs approached FIFA to complain, the deals were finally approved a day after the window closed.
David Moyes, the West Ham manager, was asked about the details of both transfers in his pre-match press conference ahead of the east Londoners’ visit to Manchester United.
"It looks like there have been some problems with the paperwork [for Benrahma] at the last minute,” Moyes explained. “But I only learned about it when I came off the pitch late last night.
"I think there is a chance the Pablo deal will be ratified. I can't confirm if it will or not at the moment though.”
The Scot also noted that he wanted to bring in another attacking midfield reinforcement to ease the loss of the pair.
"We wanted to strengthen, and we worked really hard to bring in an attacking player as well but we couldn't just quite get there."
Now, the transfers are official, and Fornals will don the green and white of Betis, who are managed by former Manchester City and West Ham head coach Manuel Pellegrini, while Benrahma will ply his trade in Ligue 1.
Reports claim that Fornals’ transfer fee is worth €8 million, while Benrahma’s loan move will cost Lyon €5 million initially, with a €15 million option to buy.
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