West Ham move towards Wout Faes deal after Leicester agreement

West Ham are moving towards a deal to sign Wout Faes from Leicester City, with the Belgian centre-back expected to stay in England despite earlier interest from clubs abroad.

The transfer has not yet been officially announced, but Sacha Tavolieri reports that West Ham and Leicester have reached a verbal agreement for the 28-year-old. Faes is expected to sign a three-year contract if the remaining formalities are completed.

That leaves the move advanced but still short of completion. A verbal agreement points to a deal being in place at negotiation level, but West Ham still need to finalise the paperwork and formally confirm the signing before Faes can be treated as their player.

For West Ham, the move fits a clear defensive need. Relegation has forced the club into a difficult squad reset, and Nuno Espírito Santo has needed senior centre-back options who can handle the physical and tactical demands of a Championship campaign.

Faes brings Premier League, Ligue 1 and international experience, even if his Leicester spell never became fully stable. He joined the Foxes from Reims in 2022, made more than 130 appearances for the club and spent the second half of last season on loan at Monaco.

His return to England would also be a practical move for Leicester. Faes had entered the final year of his contract, and the club had already left him out amid transfer uncertainty earlier in the window. Selling now would allow Leicester to avoid carrying an unsettled senior defender while recovering value before the deadline.

The deal is not without risk for West Ham. Faes has experience and aggression, but his time in England was also marked by inconsistency, particularly in a Leicester side that went through repeated defensive problems and relegation pressure.

The next step is formal confirmation. Until West Ham and Leicester announce the transfer, Faes’ move should remain classified as a reported agreement rather than an official signing.