West Ham United have confirmed that Adama Traoré will not remain at the club at the end of the season. The 30-year-old Spanish striker’s contract ends on June 30, and he will enter the market as a free agent.
Traoré arrived at West Ham in January 2026 from Fulham for around £2 million. The move reunited the player with manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who he worked with at Wolves. At the time, expectations were high because of the striker’s speed and physical strength, but the performance did not live up to the initial investment.
Discreet passage in the Premier League
In his half-season at the London Stadium, Traoré played around 24 games, scoring no goals and with just one assist. The low performance came in a difficult year for the Hammers, who finished 18th in the Premier League and were relegated to the Championship for the first time since 2010/11.
Even with the 3-0 victory over Leeds in the last round, West Ham was unable to escape the defeat, which was defined after Tottenham’s victory over Everton. Relegation accelerated the reformulation of the squad, with departures such as Łukasz Fabiański and now Traoré.
Career of ups and downs
Trained in Barcelona’s youth categories, Traoré made a name for himself at Wolves between 2018 and 2021, where he displayed his main characteristic: physical explosion. He then played for Barcelona, Aston Villa and Fulham before arriving at West Ham. At 30, he is now looking for a new project that enhances his style of play.
Spain’s interest and open future
Spanish clubs are already showing interest. Second division side Elche have reportedly made Traoré their main attacking priority. Other LaLiga teams may emerge, attracted by the possibility of signing him without a transfer fee. Salary, however, can be an obstacle to negotiations.
For West Ham, the departure represents the beginning of reconstruction in the Championship. The club must prioritize salary reductions and signings more in line with the team’s new level.