Manor Solomon gives West Ham United something they badly needed after Crysencio Summerville’s departure: a winger who can create chances himself rather than relying on the game opening up around him.
The 27-year-old has officially completed his move to West Ham and will wear the No.10 shirt under Nuno Espírito Santo.
His Championship record is already proven. More importantly, the way Solomon produced those numbers at Leeds United suggests he should fit the type of games West Ham will regularly encounter this season.
Manor Solomon gives West Ham a ball-carrier
West Ham will spend plenty of this Championship campaign facing teams prepared to defend deep.
Those matches demand players who can beat an opponent rather than simply circulate possession around a packed defence. Solomon demonstrated that ability consistently during Leeds’ title-winning 2024/25 campaign.
Opta Analyst recorded Solomon with 10 goals and 12 assists, making him the first Leeds player since Pablo Hernández to reach double figures for both in the same league season. His influence went beyond the final numbers.
Solomon created 28 chances following carries, the most of any Leeds player, while eight of his goal involvements came after carrying the ball himself.
He also attempted more than 100 take-ons and completed 51% of them. No other Championship player combined that volume of dribbling with a success rate above 50%.
That directness gives Nuno a way of changing the rhythm of attacks when West Ham cannot find space through passing alone.
Solomon can create for West Ham’s new striker
The next part of West Ham’s recruitment could make his arrival even more interesting.
Nuno still wants another centre-forward, with ReadWestHam reporting earlier today that the club are preparing to continue their pursuit of Troy Parrott.
Whoever eventually leads the line should benefit from Solomon’s ability to create from wide areas.
His 10.3 open-play expected assists for Leeds was the highest figure recorded by any Championship player in 2024/25. Solomon became particularly dangerous during the promotion run-in, contributing three goals and five assists across his final six appearances as Leeds won every game.
Taty Castellanos has already shown he can attack the penalty area after scoring twice against Portsmouth. Adding Solomon’s delivery and movement from the left should give West Ham another route towards creating chances for their centre-forward.
Why the signing could suit West Ham perfectly
There are still risks.
Injuries have interrupted Solomon’s career and he never established himself at Tottenham. West Ham are not signing somebody with an uninterrupted record of success at Premier League level.
However, they are not preparing for a normal Premier League campaign.
West Ham need players capable of producing consistently across 46 Championship matches, including difficult away games and afternoons when opponents allow them plenty of possession but very little space.
Solomon has already proved he can thrive in exactly those circumstances.
West Ham confirmed his arrival on a three-year contract with a further one-year option. Giving him the No.10 shirt also suggests he has been recruited to play a significant role rather than simply provide depth.
Replacing Summerville was never going to be about finding an identical player.
In Solomon, West Ham may instead have found a winger whose greatest strengths are particularly well suited to the division they now need to escape.
