by Staff Writer
Monday, 1st September 2025
West Ham are in discussions with Portuguese club Braga regarding highly-rated defender Bright Arrey-Mbi, according to reports.
The 6'2" centre half, who could represent either England, Germany or Cameroon at full international level - and has already represented both England and Germany at youth level - is understood to have been the subject of ongoing negotiations between the two clubs in recent weeks.
And the Hammers are though to be closing in on a permanent transfer for Arrey-Mbi as the transfer window deadline - which closes at 7pm on Monday evening - draws ever closer.
Thee 22-year-old was a member of Chelsea's youth academy before moving to German side Bayern Munich in 2019, for whom he made just one appearance - that being in a Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid. in December 2020.
Little more than a year later, and with no further first team experience under his belt, the Cameroon-born defender was on his way to fellow Bundesliga outfit FC Koln on an 18-month loan spell.
However having once again secured limited first team experience with Die Geißböcke his loan arrangement was cancelled by Bayern in August 2022, who sent him to Hannover 96 for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign. That deal was made permanent following the completion of his loan arrangement.
After 32 appearances and just one season at the Niedersachsenstadion, Arrey-Mbi was on the move again - this time to current club Braga - whom he joined for a fee of €6.2 million in July 2024. And if West Ham have their way, the defender could be about to join the SIXTH club of his career.
Should West Ham not be able to complete a deal ahead of tonight's deadline, Chelsea defender Axel Disasi - who spent last season on loan with Aston Villa - is being lined up as a potential alternative with a season-long loan deal mooted.
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