West Ham United Lose The Race To Sign 25-Year-Old Colombian Midfielder: Is This A Big Setback? | OneFootball

Over the past few years, West Ham United have at times raised expectations and at times disappointed fans. They reached the Europa League semi-finals in 2021-22 and then struggled in the league the following season. They once again finished mid-table in 2023-24, and the 2024/25 season turned out to be more bitter for the Hammers. Their midfield balance was particularly disrupted, causing many games to slip away.

This summer, the club lost several senior midfielders. Carlos Soler moved to PSG, and Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, and James Ward-Prowse – all of them have questions about their futures. This instability forced the club to look for new options. The management looked to the South American market, where they found one name that appealed to them.

Nelson Deossa: A potential hope that seems to be slipping away for West Ham United

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 25: CF Monterrey player Nelson Deossa in action during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between Urawa Red Diamonds and CF Monterrey at Rose Bowl Stadium on June 25, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

25-year-old midfielder Nelson Deossa from CF Monterrey attracted the attention of West Ham. According to Willie Gonzalez‘s report, the club even made an offer of $13 million for the player. However, just when this effort seemed to be paying off, news came from Spain that Real Betis had gone two steps ahead of them. According to AS‘s report, Deossa is now set to join the La Liga club in a deal worth around $17 million.

Talking about Deossa’s attributes, he is full of energy. His strengths are his speed, ball control and defensive coverage. The midfielder displays a mature mindset for his age, and getting such a player could have been very helpful for West Ham.

Is losing Deossa a loss for the Hammers?

The biggest question in this entire scenario is—did West Ham make a mistake by missing this opportunity? In our opinion, the answer is ‘half yes’ and ‘half no’. Yes, because a player like Deossa was suitable for the club’s needs and could become a strong pillar in the future. His playing style meets the needs of a modern midfield. In such a situation, when the club’s midfield is struggling, a fresh face can make a difference.

However, if we talk about why ‘no’ because after offering 13 million, the club pulled back in the race to 17 million. Perhaps they trusted alternative names, or they found the price to be too high. This shows that the club are not relying on a single player, but they have a wider vision. Nevertheless, missing out on Deossa means that West Ham will now have to decide on the next options soon, otherwise the start of the season may once again be in question.