Transfer Analysis

From Ashton to Ayew: Examining the injury curse of West Ham’s transfer record signings

By Mitch WaddonPosted on August 18, 2016
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West Ham fans can be forgiven for cursing loudly when the read the news on Wednesday evening that record signing Andre Ayew is set to miss the next four months of action due to injury.

The forward lasted just over half an hour on his official debut for the club against Chelsea before limping off, but most won’t be the least bit shocked – no matter how annoyed supporters are.

There seems to be a curse on the club when it comes to big money signings, particularly when the Irons are bold enough to smash their previous transfer record fee.

Consider all the times the Irons have broken their previous transfer record over the last decade, and maybe hope West Ham don’t try to spend big money on you!

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Dean Ashton
Signed: January 2006 from Norwich City

Left: December 2009 (retired)

Transfer Fee: £7.25m

Appearances: 56

Goals: 19

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Dean Ashton scored 15 Premier League goals in 46 outings for West Ham
Dean Ashton’s career promised great things when the young England forward moved to West Ham in 2006. The striker quickly established himself in their first team and helped the Irons reach the FA Cup final.

That summer, however, Ashton would suffer a grave ankle injury while on international duty, and would miss the whole of the following season.

Although he was able to feature in the 2007/2008 campaign with relative success the striker never fully recovered.

With his ankle still giving him problems, Ashton’s last match for West Ham came at the beginning of the 2008/2009 season, before the forward was forced to retire, aged 26, just over a year later.

Craig Bellamy
Signed: Summer 2007 from Liverpool

Left: January 2009 for Manchester City

Transfer Fee: £7.5m

Appearances: 26

Goals: 9

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Craig Bellamy scored seven Premier League goals in 24 appearances for West Ham
Bellamy was seen as a very strong signing by the Irons when the secured his signature from Liverpool, in the aftermath of a relegation battle, in the summer of 2007.

However the Welshman’s fitness had other ideas and Bellamy would play just nine times for his new side in his debut campaign, and was ruled out for the rest of the season in February 2008.

Although the former Celtic and Newcastle man was in firing form upon his return, his decent record saw a bid accepted from Manchester City and, with the Hammers struggling financially, Bellamy was sold 18 months after joining the East London club.

Savio Nsereko
Signed: January 2009 from Brescia

Left: Summer 2009 for Fiorentina

Transfer Fee: £9m

Appearances: 10

Goals: 0

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Savio Nsereko failed to score during his time at West Ham
Savio’s signing, one of the only big money moves of the Gianfranco Zola era, was one that caught fans unaware but at the same time caused much excitement. Here was a young, talented forward from Italy, ready to take on the Premier League.

Sadly things didn’t work out that way for Savio, and the pacy attacker just couldn’t adapt to the English game. He was unceremoniously sent back to Italy with Fiorentina just six months later after just one start for the Irons.

Since then things have taken a big nose-dive for Savio. The striker now plays for Lithuanian side FK Lietava Jonava and in 2012 he was arrested by Thai police for faking his own kidnapping and demanding ransom money from his own family.

Matthew Jarvis
Signed: Summer 2012 from Wolves

Left: Summer 2015 to Norwich

Transfer Fee: £10.75m

Appearances: 90

Goals: 6

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Despite creating 86 chances, Matthew Jarvis registered just three assists in the Premier League during his time with West Ham
Matthew Jarvis went to West Ham under Sam Allardyce upon their return to the Premier League and the winger looked destined to bring pace and a great cross to Upton Park.

While initially Jarvis looked a decent buy it quickly became apparent that the former Wolves man just couldn’t cut it in the English top flight, and after two years of playing regularly for the first team he was turned into a substitute.

The wide-man is widely considered among West Ham supporters as one of the club’s worst ever players in recent history, although looking at the rest of this list and the injury record Jarvis might have got off lightly.

Andy Carroll
Signed: Summer 2013 from Liverpool

Left: N/A

Transfer Fee: £15.5m

Appearances: 91

Goals: 23

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Andy Carroll has scored just 16 Premier League goals since making the permanent move to West Ham three years ago
Andy Carroll initially joined the Hammers in 2012 on loan and the striker seemed a decent signing, playing 24 times in the league and scoring seven goals.

It was when the deal became permanent the problems started, however, and Carroll regularly battled against a variety of injuries. This season is the first year that the England forward has been fit enough to start the campaign, with set-backs stifling his chances to play.

Since the 27-year-old made his transfer to West Ham permanent, Carroll has played in just 57 of 115 Premier League matches, starting only 36 of them. It’s an injury record that has blighted what could have been a great move for both player and club.

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Andre Ayew
Signed: Summer 2016 from Swansea

Left: N/A

Transfer Fee: £20m

Appearances: 1

Goals: 0

Andre Ayew played just 34 minutes against Chelsea before becoming injured
West Ham fans would have been begging for a change of fortune when Andre Ayew signed for their side when he became the big money transfer to go with the move to the London Stadium.

The intake of breath when the 26-year-old Ghanaian went down injured against Chelsea on Monday, his first game for the club, is one that the supporters have made far too many times before.

Ayew lasted just 34 minutes of the 2-1 loss to the Blues and all those associated with West Ham were frustrated, but not surprised, to hear that the new record signing would be out of action for four months.