West Ham Sign Adama Traore from Fulham as Relegation Battle Intensifies

West Ham United completed the signing of winger Adama Traore from Fulham on Wednesday for an undisclosed fee, bringing the 30-year-old speedster back to a club managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, his former boss at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Hammers, currently third from bottom in the Premier League and five points from safety, described the Spain international as “strong, quick and able to create and score goals”. The move reunites Traore with Nuno, the Portuguese coach who oversaw some of the winger’s most productive years at Wolves between 2018 and 2022.

Traore, who has made 262 Premier League appearances and scored 14 goals, has been largely a peripheral figure at Fulham this season. A product of Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy, he moved to England in 2015 when he joined Aston Villa. Subsequent spells at Middlesbrough and Wolves followed, with his time at Molineux marking him out as one of the division’s most physically imposing wide players, capable of explosive bursts of pace and direct running that troubled defences across the league.

Speaking after the transfer, Traore expressed determination to contribute immediately to West Ham’s relegation fight.

“I love the challenges,” he said. “I think, of course, we have to go game by game. And this is what we’re going to do, trying to do our best. I think everything comes from belief. And I believe we’re going to achieve what we’re looking for.”

Nuno welcomed the addition of a player he knows well.

“Adama is someone who knows the Premier League very well, and his qualities, both as a player and a person, will help us between now and the end of the season,” the manager said. “He will give us a different option in attacking areas. He is also motivated to fight for us and ready to bring energy, commitment and determination to our challenge.”

The signing continues an active January window for West Ham as they battle to preserve their top-flight status. Earlier this month the club brought in forwards Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos, moves aimed at strengthening an attack that has struggled for consistency this campaign.

Despite their precarious league position, the east London side have shown signs of improvement, securing back-to-back victories against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland in recent weeks.

Traore, who has earned eight caps for Spain, adds proven Premier League experience to a squad urgently seeking points before the January transfer window closes on Monday.