West Ham and Ajax have reached an agreement on a £32 million deal for Mexico midfielder Edson Alvarez.
This transfer marks West Ham’s first signing of the summer, as they were the only Premier League club yet to make any acquisitions.
Alvarez, a defensive midfielder, is set to sign a five-year contract and is seen as a direct replacement for Declan Rice.
The 25-year-old is expected to undergo a medical examination in London shortly.
Under their new transfer committee led by Tim Steidten, an ex-Bayer Leverkusen executive serving as the technical director, West Ham is still interested in signing Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay.
Further signings are anticipated before the transfer window closes.
Despite Southampton’s strong stance on their asking price, West Ham is likely to make a new proposal for James Ward-Prowse.
The Hammers will kick off their Premier League campaign on August 12 with an away match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.