---
title: "Virals: West Ham confirm Fabian Balbuena departure"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/06/05/virals-west-ham-confirm-fabian-balbuena-departure/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-06-05T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-06-05T08:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham confirm Fabian Balbuena departure

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/06/04/virals-west-ham-reportedly-interested-in-lazio-forward-joaquin-correa/) have confirmed central defender [Fabian Balbuena](https://readwestham.com/2021/03/05/exwhuemployee-says-nothing-is-decided-for-fabian-balbuena/) will not be retained at the club when his contract expires at the end of the month.

The 29-year-old will depart the London Stadium, ending a three-year stint in east London after arriving [from Corinthians](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/11436782/fabian-balbuena-signs-for-west-ham-from-corinthians) in 2018.

Balbuena will end his time as a Hammer having made [62 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fabian-balbuena/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/285548) – scoring three goals and picking up five yellow cards along the way.

The club confirmed the news on the [official website](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/june/04-june/retained-list-issued-fabian-balbuena-depart) before thanking the Paraguay international on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/WestHam/status/1400829838286589955).

> Twitter: We have issued the Club’s Retained List of players, with Fabian Balbuena departing when his contract expires on Jun… https://t.co/D39lE1Eato (@WestHam)

The centre-back [responded](https://twitter.com/FBalbuenito/status/1400838573658718211) to the news and gave a special mention to the Irons’ supporters.

> Twitter: To my teammates, staffs, workers of the club and specially to the fans my big big thank you ! It was a very special… https://t.co/PRwBUExn00 (@FBalbuenito)

Meanwhile, the announcement also further [confirmed](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-watford-craig-dawson-b928123.html) Craig Dawson would become a permanent squad member on July 1, whilst youngsters Sean Adarkwa, Olatunji Akinola, Samuel Caiger, Alfie Lewis and Joshua Okotcha are also set to leave the club.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Although Balbuena’s departure has seemed an inevitability for some time now, David Moyes will be desperate to [sign a replacement](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1445395/Man-Utd-West-Ham-battle-Nikola-Milenkovic-transfer-Chelsea-hold-key) this summer.

More often than not part of the matchday squad, the Paraguayan was [called into action against Chelsea](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fabian-balbuena/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/285548/saison/2020/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/379) a little over a month ago – highlighting his continued importance to the plans.

Whilst much is made of [Frederik Alves’ potential](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/december/22-december/west-ham-united-sign-promising-danish-defender-frederik), Moyes will want a senior defender to bolster the options further.

Reportedly set to [return to South America](https://www.caughtoffside.com/2021/06/04/west-ham-ace-drawing-interest-from-brazilian-giants-after-not-having-contract-renewed/), we wish Balbuena luck wherever he ends up next.