Downes Heads To Saints

After Thilo Kehrer, Nathan Trott and Saïd Benrahma all turned their loan moves permanent recently, it has now been confirmed that West Ham United midfielder Flynn Downes has followed suit, joining Premier League newcomers Southampton for a fee believed to be £18m.

After signing him in the summer of 2022, former Hammers’ manager David Moyes allowed the midfielder to join up with his former boss Russell Martin at St Mary’s on a season-long loan last August. Although a permanent move was not part of the deal that took Downes to the South Coast, a permanent switch was agreed between the two clubs in the last few days.

New Irons’ Head-Coach Julen Lopetegui was keen to take the former Ipswich Town and Swansea City midfielder on their week-long pre-season training camp of Austria and even included him in the squad for the club’s first friendly match against Hungarian outfit Ferencvárosi TC on Monday.

The two clubs had been liaising about this potential transfer since June 26 and Downes underwent a medical not long after West Ham’s 2-2 draw against last season’s Hungarian Champions.

The Brentwood-born player will make his first return to Stratford with his new club on Saturday 17 April.

There is still lots of time for deals to be done before the transfer window closes at the end of August. If and when further moves are finalised, then as always, this site will keep its readers up to date.