West Ham have fended off a late scare from fellow Premier League side Leeds United in order to bring 18-year-old prospect Matthew Bondswell to the London Stadium.
Football Insider has revealed that the Yorkshire outfit were pushing with late advances to poach the youngster from the Hammers, but Bondswell is set for an east London move. The teenager flew into London yesterday to finalise personal terms and undergo a medical.
Bondswell is an England under-18 youth international but plies his trade in Germany with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig. He previously spent eight years at Nottingham Forest before switching to Germany in 2018.
Football Insider were reportedly informed by a source close to West Ham that a deal is complete with the German club. With the final touches looking to be completed, West Ham fans can be confident that Bondswell is theirs, and the last-minute attempts by Leeds to lure Bondswell elsewhere is a testament to his potential.
The source also claims that the Whites attempted to sign Danish prospect Frederik Alves, who joined the Hammers at the start of the current transfer window.
Other clubs who were interested in signing Bondswell include Chelsea and Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon. The 18-year-old is reportedly noted by scouts as having both the athleticism and the technical ability to thrive at an elite level.
Read West Ham Verdict
The interest in Bondswell should be seen as a major compliment by West Ham fans. At just 18, he has attracted interest at a national and continental level from top clubs – and that is no coincidence.
The attributes for which he is most prized are indicative of a maturity beyond his years, and he appears to have the potential to break into the first team over the coming months.
