---
title: "West Ham interested in Championship-winning Southampton defender"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2026/06/04/west-ham-interest-southampton-taylor-harwood-bellis/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Matt Bottomley"
section: "West Ham Transfer News"
published: "2026-06-04T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-06-04T08:34:23Z"
---

# West Ham interested in Championship-winning Southampton defender

- **West Ham are preparing for life in the Championship**
- **The Hammers are interested in Taylor Harwood-Bellis**
- **Hull City and Coventry City are also interested**

West Ham United are attempting to prepare for life in the Championship. Things haven’t been easy for the Hammers and the team still needs to raise £150 million this summer.

The sales of [Mateus Fernandes](https://readwestham.com/2026/06/03/west-ham-braced-for-mateus-fernandes-transfer-jose-mourinho-real-madrid-interest/) and [Crysencio Summerville](https://readwestham.com/2026/06/04/west-ham-crysencio-summerville-netherlands-debut/) are expected to make up a big chunk of that number but more departures are expected. [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/) could sell up to nine players in this window.

[Nuno Espirito Santo](https://readwestham.com/2026/06/01/nuno-espirito-santo-verdict-west-ham-director-of-football/) will stay at the Irons into next season, but his task of building a promotion challenging squad will not be easy. Despite their troubles, rumours of incomings at the London Stadium continue to grow.

## West Ham interested in Taylor Harwood-Bellis

According to [talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/football/4300573/transfer-news-fernandes-man-utd-iraola-liverpool-spygate-southampton/), West Ham are among a number of team’s interested in Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Newly promoted sides Hull City and Coventry City are also reportedly interested.

The central defender was a huge part of the Saints team that originally made it to the playoff final before their disqualification due to spygate. With the club committing to boss Tonda Eckert, the 24-year-old is among a number of players weighing up their future on the south coast.

**Taylor Harwood-Bellis’s 2025/26 Southampton Statistics**

| **Appearances** | **Goals** | **Assists** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 48 | 7 | 2 |

The former [Manchester City](https://readmancity.com/) defender played almost every game as Burnley were promoted from the Championship in 2023 under Vincent Kompany. With pedigree like that, Harwood-Bellis presents exactly [the type of player](https://readwestham.com/2026/06/02/opinion-west-ham-target-arsenal-reiss-nelson/) [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2026/05/31/west-ham-maximilian-hahn-resigns-from-role/) are after.

The Hammers do face a fight to secure his services, with Premier League sides also after the defender. The Irons will hope their pull can outweigh that of teams above.