Nayef Aguerd has thanked West Ham United for letting him go at the end of the transfer window and join Real Sociedad on loan.
Marca cover comments from the defender today after he was presented by Real Sociedad today in a press conference.
The Moroccan had been linked with a move away from West Ham for much of the summer, with the Hammers’ big spend, particularly on central defenders, pushing him down the pecking order.
It was eventually Real Sociedad who secured his signature, moving on deadline day to get him on loan for the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old will be hoping to bounce back in Spain after struggling to really hit his peak at West Ham following a €35m move from Stade Rennais in July 2022.
He managed 58 appearances in that time but failed to hit the same heights he managed with Morrocco at the World Cup in Qatar.
It seems he was not a part of Julen Lopetegui’s plans at West Ham moving forwards and so was allowed to go, although he’s keen to thank them for sanctioning it late into the transfer window.
“I want to thank all the people at the club (Sociedad),” he said.
“The last hours of the market were very intense, but I am very happy to be here, this great club, with a great history.
“When I spoke with Roberto and the coach, I knew I had to come here. It is a very healthy club, which helps the players to improve a lot and that is what I am looking for, because I want to grow, as does the club, which wants to be as high as possible.
“Thanks to the club (West Ham) for giving me the opportunity to leave, because I wanted to try something new, and I wanted to play in LaLiga and doing so in a club like Real is perfect. That’s why I speak Spanish so well, because since I was little, I wanted to learn it to play in LaLiga one day.”
