West Ham United have pulled out of a deal to sign Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson due to concerns over the 26-year-old’s fitness record, [according to Claret & Hugh](https://www.claretandhugh.info/too-risky-hammers-back-away-from-deal-despite-club-to-club-agreement-west-ham-breaking-news/).
Negotiations between the two London clubs had reached an advanced stage, with Arsenal keen to sanction a permanent departure for the Hale End academy graduate as Mikel Arteta looks to trim his squad before the transfer window closes.
However, caution from West Ham’s medical department ultimately forced the East London club to pull the plug on the deal.
The primary stumbling block was Nelson’s recent injury record and recurring muscular issues. During consecutive loan spells at Fulham and Brentford over the past two seasons, the [‘special’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHRqCydBcfA&t=77) winger endured disrupted campaigns due to persistent hamstring problems.
A severe injury prematurely ended his spell at Craven Cottage in 2024-25, requiring surgery and restricting him to just 11 top-flight appearances. Similar setbacks plagued his stint at Brentford last term, where he managed only 10 Premier League outings.
After detailed internal evaluations, West Ham’s medical team advised against committing significant wages and transfer funds to a player with a high risk of future absences.
The collapse of the deal leaves Arsenal in a difficult position regarding Nelson’s immediate future. The winger is in the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, although Arsenal hold an option to extend it by a further 12 months.
Arsenal had hoped to secure a sale this summer to raise funds. Arteta remains open to offloading the attacker, but finding a buyer willing to meet Arsenal’s valuation without medical reservations is proving increasingly difficult.
For West Ham, walking away from the Nelson deal allows the club to redirect resources towards alternative wide targets before deadline day.
Having already signed Manor Solomon from Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, West Ham are actively considering other options to bolster their attacking depth.