Transfer rumour · archive

James McAtee to West Ham United

Quiet since 7 July 2026. Last report: Graeme Bailey. Probability when it went quiet: 4%.

West Ham have opened talks over James McAtee, the 23-year-old midfielder Nottingham Forest signed only recently. The Hammers, now in the Championship, are ready to test Forest's resolve for the former Manchester City playmaker. Forest hold firm on their side: McAtee is tied down until June 2030, and there is no sign yet that they want to sell. An opening bid of €23m has been floated, with the discussed range stretching towards €31m, but Forest's asking price sits at €35m. This rests on a single voice for now. Graeme Bailey, reporting for TEAMtalk, carries the story, and he is a solid, mid-ranking source rather than a benchmark name. There is no corroboration from a second reporter, so the link is thin. West Ham have made their interest known; that is as far as it goes. The chance here is slim. For it to move, West Ham would need to close a large gap on the fee, and Forest would need a reason to sell a player they value and have locked in for years. A €23m bid against a €35m demand tells you how far apart the two sides sit. A Championship club prising a settled midfielder out of a Premier League side, on these numbers, is a long shot. McAtee's own recent history frames the money. He joined Forest from Man City for €26m, and West Ham's opening offer already trails that, never mind the €35m Forest want now. Watch for a second bid nearer Forest's valuation, or a rival club entering, either of which would tell us whether this is real or a passing test.

Who reported it