West Ham United were among the clubs linked with a move for Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup during the January transfer window, but the deal never progressed after José Mourinho intervened to keep the player.
That is according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, which reports the 21-year-old seriously considered leaving earlier this year due to limited playing time in Lisbon. However, Benfica’s manager stepped in and blocked the West Ham move after assessing both the player’s potential and the squad’s needs for the second half of the season.
Schjelderup had been used only sporadically until that point, which opened the door for several clubs to explore a transfer. West Ham were among the teams monitoring the situation, alongside Parma, Roma, Juventus and Besiktas. Club Brugge came closest to completing a deal.
According to the report, the Belgian side managed to reach an agreement with Schjelderup himself for a permanent transfer. However, negotiations with Benfica ultimately broke down, preventing the move from going through.
Interest from West Ham and other clubs
West Ham’s presence on the list of interested clubs reflects their continued search for attacking depth, particularly in wide areas. We covered their alleged interest at the time and it has now been confirmed by the Portuguese press. The Hammers have regularly looked at emerging European talent in recent transfer windows, and Schjelderup fits that profile. West Ham even opened talks.
The Norwegian winger joined Benfica from FC Nordsjælland in January 2023 and is regarded as one of the more technically gifted young attackers in the club’s squad. Comfortable on either flank, he is known for his close control, acceleration and ability to attack defenders in one-on-one situations.
Because of his limited minutes earlier this season, a loan move was also discussed with multiple clubs. Nevertheless, Benfica never fully opened the door for an exit once Mourinho made his position clear.
What happens next
For now, Schjelderup remains at Benfica and is expected to continue fighting for a bigger role in the squad.
However, the level of interest during the winter suggests his situation could become one to watch. Clubs such as West Ham have already been alerted to his availability. If his playing time remains limited in Lisbon, interest could easily return.
Benfica will obviously sell if the right offer arrives, so this is a pause rather than a block. Whether West Ham will provide that offer remains to be seen.
The Hammers need to secure their Premier League status first.
