West Ham United are in the midst of a tight fight to stay in the Premier League this season. Once seven points adrift, the Hammers are now only in the relegation zone on goals difference, and have the changes they made at the start of 2026 to thanks for their journey towards survival.
Whilst Paco Jemez is the one that oversaw the changes, West Ham‘s biggest playing addition has been the loan signing of Axel Disasi. The disregarded Chelsea defender has played every single minute of Premier League football since joining the club. Being a key part of the defensive revolution within the team.
According to Football Insider, West Ham have now set up talks with Chelsea over a permanent move for the 28-year-old. The Blues are said to want to recoup as much of the £38m they paid for Disasi in 2023, which is a price tag that the Hammers will not pay.
Any deal is also conditional on if the Iron’s remain in the Premier League or not. With a price tag being too high for a Championship club and the player’s desire to return to the French national team before the end of his career.
The loan fee for Disasi is reportedly around £1.68m, in which West Ham cover all the player’s wages. The Irons are hoping the fee will help them bring down a transfer cost. With the Hammers need to change things financially this summer, staying up will be pivotal to move funds around and bring in the Frenchman permanently.
Axel Disasi’s West Ham redemption
Since being left in the cold by former manager Enzo Maresca, life in football hasn’t been easy for Disasi. A loan spell with Aston Villa, where he did not manage much football. The move failed to give him a lifeline and sent him back to exile at Chelsea.
This season, things have changed, his temporary move to Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham has given him a new lease of life.
A huge part of the defensive unit with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo and Mads Hermansen. The group have amassed three clean sheets in the seven Premier League games Disasi has featured in.
Axel Disasi’s 2025/26 West Ham United Statistics
| Appearances | Goals | Clean Sheets |
| 8 | 0 | 4 |
In his short time with the Hammers, Disasi is winning 60% of his duels per 90. Blocking 1 shot per 90. Winning 63.6% of his aerial duels and making 2.61 accurate long balls per 90. The impact of the 28-year-old cannot be understated at West Ham.
There’s a long way to go between now and safety for the Hammers, but when it’s all said and done, they will hope Disasi can join the club for the future.
