Formal talks are officially underway between Ajax and West Ham United regarding a permanent transfer for Edson Alvarez. The London club demands a strict €15 million fee. And they won’t accept another loan.
Technical director Jordi Cruyff currently steers the negotiations for the Amsterdam outfit. Direct confirmation of the approach came straight from Dutch reporter Mike Verweij—a detail that changes the stakes. Real Sociedad also wants him. So Ajax must speed up.
West Ham’s facing a massive rebuild after their Premier League relegation. Nuno Espírito Santo now manages the squad down in the Championship, a reality outlined in recent club updates. Alvarez spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Fenerbahçe—an arrangement that didn’t stick. A proposed transfer to FC Köln recently collapsed over salary disagreements. A fresh start is what he’s hoping for.
But past finances shadow the talks. West Ham reportedly still owes Ajax €14 million from the 2023 agreement. Outstanding installments might entirely dictate the structure of a new package, according to detailed reporting on the Real Sociedad interest and the debt.
Ajax desperately needs a defensive midfielder immediately. Former captain Jordan Henderson terminated his contract last year to join Brentford. His sudden departure forced 17-year-old Jorthy Mokio and Davy Klaassen into midfield roles they were completely unsuited for. To finance the Alvarez acquisition, Ajax might need to sell Sivert Mannsverk. They could also offload Ahmetcan Kaplan.
West Ham Latest: Unpaid Installments Complicate the Alvarez Valuation
Between 2019 and 2023, Alvarez logged 147 appearances for Ajax. He secured two Eredivisie titles during that span—plus a KNVB Cup victory in 2021. Financially, the €14 million debt almost entirely cancels out the €15 million asking price. So Ajax could reacquire him through a simple forgiveness of the outstanding balance. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Alvarez passed 100 international caps. He previously captained Mexico to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.