West Ham United are reportedly exploring a free-transfer move for Adam Webster after the defender’s Brighton & Hove Albion exit.
The 31-year-old is available this summer after leaving Brighton, where he spent seven years, and West Ham are weighing up whether his Premier League experience can help Nuno Espirito Santo’s rebuild following relegation.
Webster has not played for a year after suffering an ACL injury, but he is continuing his rehabilitation with Brighton and has interest from several clubs, according to a fresh update from The Sun.
West Ham’s defensive rebuild needs low-risk answers
The appeal for West Ham is obvious. With Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos both facing uncertain futures, the club need centre-back depth without committing major fees before the squad’s bigger financial picture becomes clearer.
Webster would not arrive as a guaranteed starter while he works back to full sharpness, but a free-agent deal could give West Ham an experienced option who knows the division and has played in possession-heavy systems at Brighton.
The risk is just as clear. A year out makes fitness the central issue, and West Ham cannot afford another rebuild signing who needs months before he is genuinely available.
That is why this feels like a decision built around medical checks and contract structure. If Webster proves he is close to match readiness, West Ham may see value. If there is any doubt, Nuno’s side need to keep moving quickly in a summer where defensive certainty is already in short supply.
