West Ham Player Reveals Near-Miss Chelsea Transfer Worth £51m
In an unexpected twist of fate, West Ham star Edson Alvarez has recently disclosed that he was just “hours away” from joining Chelsea while he was still at Ajax. The revelation has sent shockwaves through the footballing world as fans and pundits alike speculate on what could have been for both the player and the two clubs involved.
Chelsea, under the ownership of Todd Boehly, made a splash in the summer of 2022, acquiring a total of nine major signings including Enzo Fernandez, Raheem Sterling, and Wesley Fofana. However, Boehly and then-manager Thomas Tuchel still had their sights set on strengthening their midfield and made an offer worth approximately £51m for Mexican international Alvarez.
Alvarez’s agent recently shed light on Chelsea’s pursuit, revealing that Ajax refused to engage in any negotiations after having already sold several key players such as Ryan Gravenberch, Sebastien Haller, Lisandro Martinez, and Antony. The player himself has now spoken out about the potential transfer and disclosed that the move was so close to fruition that a plane was waiting at the airport to take him to London.
“Actually, in year three [at Ajax], I had to go to Chelsea, the plane was waiting for me at the airport,” Alvarez told Fox Sports. “When Ajax told me you know what: ‘you’re not going’. Whether people believe it or not, it doesn’t make any difference to me, I’m the one who is here and the one who is living it.”
The missed opportunity for Alvarez to join Chelsea was undoubtedly a turning point in his career. Nevertheless, fate had other plans for him as he arrived in the English top-flight a year later, signing with West Ham for £35m. Since then, Alvarez has become an integral part of David Moyes’ squad, making 35 appearances in all competitions and playing a crucial role in West Ham’s rise to seventh place in the Premier League and their success in the later stages of the Europa League.
Agent Nathan van Kooperen offered further insight into Chelsea’s pursuit of Alvarez, stating, “Chelsea were prepared to go very far. They wanted to do everything they could to bring him to Chelsea. But Ajax had no replacement ready, so they weren’t prepared to cooperate. They thought [qualifying for] Champions League football was very important.”
The failed move to Chelsea undoubtedly had a significant impact on Alvarez, especially considering that many of his Ajax teammates were allowed to leave the club. Van Kooperen added, “That made it extra difficult for Edson. He saw his friends leave the club, and it was Chelsea [who wanted him], where he could instantly become the most expensive Mexican footballer in history. It was difficult for him.”
While the missed opportunity to join Chelsea may have been disappointing for Alvarez at the time, his subsequent move to West Ham has proven to be fruitful for both the player and the club. As he continues to make a name for himself in the Premier League, fans can only wonder what might have been if he had donned the blue of Chelsea instead.
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