Transfer Centre

West Ham United confirm Jeremy Ngakia exit on free transfer

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 25 June 2020

West Ham United confirm that academy graduate Jeremy Ngakia and veteran full-back Pablo Zabaleta will leave the club on free transfers at the end of the month.

West Ham United have confirmed that academy graduate Jeremy Ngakia will leave the club on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of this month.

The 19-year-old has broken into the Hammers first team this season, making five starts this calendar year, but has rejected the chance to stay at the club beyond June 30.

A club statement confirmed that the young full-back had been offered "significantly improved terms" but that Ngakia "declined to accept any of the offers", in addition to turning down the chance to agree a short-term extension until the end of the season.

"Academy of Football graduate Jeremy Ngakia, who has made five first-team starts in 2020, is also leaving the club after not signing a new contract," read the statement.

"In line with our structure and policy, Jeremy was offered significantly improved terms to reward his breakthrough into the first-team squad this year, along with further contractual enhancements linked to his future progress and success.

"However, the player and his representatives declined to accept any of the offers, and also turned down a short-term extension until the end of the current season."

The Hammers will also bid farewell to Pablo Zabaleta and Carlos Sanchez on June 30, with Zalabeta unable to agree a short-term extension due to an injury.

"Zabaleta departs after three seasons in which he made a total of 80 appearances, scoring a solitary goal in an FA Cup win at Gillingham in January 2020," the statement added.

"Unfortunately, an injury has prevented him from accepting the club's offer of a short-term extension until the end of the disrupted 2019-20 season.

"Sanchez departs after playing 18 times over the course of two seasons. The experienced Colombia international was unfortunate to suffer a serious knee injury early on in his debut season that prevented him making more of an impact for the club."

David Moyes's side currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.