West Ham United have already signed one Chelsea defender this year – landing Axel Disasi on loan – but make no mistake; the Stamford Bridge outfit will not be quite so obliging with Josh Acheompong.
While AC Milan appeared Disasi’s most likely destination before the Hammers completed a deadline day swoop for five-time France international Axel Disasi, competition will be in even greater supply when it comes to one of the breakout talents of the 2025/26 Premier League.
What’s more, while Disasi was clearly not part of Chelsea’s plans, young Josh Acheampong is someone the Blues envisage as a pillar of future success.
They say never fall in love with a loan player, but we’ve all done it before 😂
A graphic asking West Ham United fans when they last loved a loan player as much as Axel Disasi.
Credit; Getty Images/Izzy Poles – AMA
Yet, German reporter Christian Falk did some digging as those links with Bayern Munich reared their heads again. He believes that, while Acheampong may be ‘an option’ for the Bundesliga leaders, West Ham are also sniffing around.
West Ham United reportedly eyeing Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong
“He keeps being linked to Bayern, and you could say he’s an interesting player,” Falk says.
“Clubs like Newcastle, Tottenham, and West Ham are all said to have interest. He’s not entirely satisfied at Chelsea, isn’t getting much playing time, and could be an option for Bayern.
“And they are indeed looking at that [centre-back] position.”
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Josh Acheampong during Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
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Still only 19, reports of Acheampong’s apparent unhappiness may come as a surprise to neutral observers. The teenager has played 24 games for the first-team this season, including seven Premier League starts.
The versatile England Under-21 international is clearly a highly-ambitious young man, however. After Wesley Fofana was at the heart of another Chelsea defensive disaster in last week’s 3-0 defeat by Everton, Acheampong could certainly be forgiven for wondering what more he has to do to get a run of starts.
Acheampong has started only once in nine top-flight matches since Liam Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca in January.
According to Standard Sport, though, there is absolutely no urge from the Chelsea bosses to even consider a sale at this stage. Acheampong is under contract until 2029.
What a STATEMENT this would be! ✍️ 💫
How would you convince Josh Acheampong to leave Chelsea?
Josh Acheampong of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wrexham and Chelsea on March 07, 2026 in Wrexham, Wales.
‘Amazing’ Acheampong benched by Liam Rosenior
The best West Ham can realistically hope for, then, is another loan deal, albeit without much chance of a permanent transfer at the end of it.
“He’s showing the world how good he is and what he’s capable of, he’s an amazing boy and an amazing player,” Chelsea captain Reece James told TNT Sports recently.
“He’s still so young, he has a super bright future and he will kick on for sure.”
“The one that I fall in love tonight is Josh Acheampong,” Maresca, a huge fan of the Waltham Forest-born kid, said after a Conference League clash with Legia Warsaw last season. “For me, potentially, he can be fantastic player; a top player for this club, for football in general.
“A good player shows you that he can play in different positions. He was a full-back; good. Midfielder; good. Central defender; good.
“He showed he can be a very good player for this club.”
Unfortunately for Acheampong, Rosenior currently does not appear to share Maresca’s adoration. Then again, following four successive defeats by an aggregate score of 12-2, there is a very good chance that Acheampong outlives Rosenior at Stamford Bridge.
As for a certain Frenchman, reports claim Chelsea may accept a bid of just £20 million from West Ham should they look to keep Disasi at the London Stadium long-term.
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