The January transfer window is only 12 days old, but it’s already provided plenty of surprises and Sebastien Haller’s move from West Ham to Ajax is certainly one of them.
The Ivory Coast international’s move to the Netherlands came about quickly and surprisingly, with little fanfare or coverage beforehand.
Indeed, it was certainly a shocking one in terms of the finances for West Ham, who have taken a major loss on the striker’s departure.
They paid £40m to sign him from Eintracht Frankfurt back in 2019, with the striker having shone in Germany after a move from FC Utrecht in 2017.
He struggled at the London Stadium, though, with just 14 goals and three assists in 53 games very much a poor return for their investment.
Indeed, it is because of that why they have allowed him to join Ajax for £20.25m, a huge loss just 18 months after buying him, and something that’s now being questioned in the Netherlands.
“If you see what West Ham bought him for and now they let him go for 22.5 million euros, then I start to think,” John van’t Schip posed to Voetbal International.
“What impression has he left there that they just let him go and take a loss of 28 million euros?
“Ajax look at what type of player suits the way they play. It’s not just for the next half-season either, this a purchase for years to come.”
