When Tim Steidten was officially sacked, West Ham made it very clear he had been in full control of last summer’s £155m splurge.
Tim Steidten went from hero to zero at West Ham in the space of just 18 months.
Hammers fans had long called for a transfer specialist to be brought in to improve the club’s historically scattergun and often incoherent recruitment.
So when Steidten arrived with some excellent work at Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen on his CV, supporters were understandably excited.
The German was hailed a hero by many West Ham fans for bringing the likes of Mohammed Kudus to the club in his first window.
He even had his own terrace chant among the Hammers faithful.
Steidten the scapegoat for West Ham’s wasted season
But ‘Timmy Steidten’s magic’ did not ring out in the stands and concourses much when the season got underway as the expensive summer rebuild completely flopped.
Steidten had declared his ‘euphoria’ at having full control of West Ham’s recruitment ahead of that summer rebuild.
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In the end it was ultimately his undoing – particularly the deals for Luis Guilherme, Niclas Fullkrug and Guido Rodriguez. Not to mention the failure to sign Jhon Duran instead with that money.
Speculation had been rife over the future Steidten heading into the January window.
He was effectively laid off when Graham Potter brought in Kyle Macaulay as West Ham’s new head of recruitment.
Tim Steidten technical director of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Brentford FC at London Stadium on February 26, 2024 in London, England. Inset, Luis Guilherme, Niclas Fullkrug, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Guido Rodriguez.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
It has since been revealed Steidten spent two weeks visiting tourist attractions around London in January while West Ham’s board sorted out his exit and severance.
When his departure was made official after the winter window closed, West Ham brutally hung Steidten out to dry over the botched rebuild.
Steidten has become something of a scapegoat for West Ham’s wasted season.
While his talent identification and squad composition is seriously in question, there is no disputing that the former technical director was an expert deal-maker.
Now there is some redemption for Steidten as a West Ham star gets major official Premier League recognition.
Steidten’s redemption as West Ham star gets major recognition
In the interests of balance and fairness, it’s not correct to say all of Steidten’s summer signings have been flops.
Yes there is legitimate criticism of his decision to sign an ageing, injury-prone striker who lacks pace.
And taking a £20m punt on a Brazilian teenager who had only made 19 senior first team appearances for Palmeiras – 14 as sub – is a risk a club like West Ham simply cannot afford to take with their money.
But Max Kilman has been an excellent addition, even at £40m.
Meanwhile the exciting Crysencio Summerville looks certain to be a big player for West Ham in years to come when he is over the first serious injury of his fledgling career.
The jury remains out on Jean-Clair Todibo. But his performances have been improving under Potter and he looks like an elite Premier League centre-back in the making if he can stay fit.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
It is Aaron Wan-Bissaka who has stolen the show, though.
And not just at West Ham.
As far as most fans are concerned, West Ham’s Hammer of the Year was decided at Arsenal.
Another man of the match performance from £15m right-back Wan-Bissaka sealed the deal in the eyes of most Hammers.
Well now Steidten has received some vindication from the Premier League itself.
Because Wan-Bissaka has been officially nominated for the Premier League’s Signing of the Season award for 2024/25.
West Ham’s £15m Wan-Bissaka nominated for Premier League’s best signing
West Ham’s flying full-back has dispelled the myth he can’t attack since moving to the London Stadium.
He is officially the fifth best English player in the entire Premier League and the second best full-back behind only Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Wan-Bissaka is up against Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino, Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, Villa’s Marco Asensio, Brighton’s Georginio Rutter, Crystal Palace’ Ismaila Sarr, Ipswich striker Liam Delap, Man City’s Omar Marmoush, Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic and Wolves’ Emmanuel Agbadou for the gong.
Fans are now being invited to vote for their winner.
In an official announcement, the Premier League states Wan-Bissaka has been head and shoulders West Ham’s best player.
Stat Total Club rank
Interceptions 49 1st
Tackles won 35 1st
Poss. won in defensive third 71 1st
Poss. won 139 1st
Open-play crosses 54 2nd
Chances created from open play 24 =2nd
Wan-Bissaka stats and rank among West Ham team-mates
“There was not a great deal of fanfare surrounding Wan-Bissaka’s arrival in east London, but he has proven to be their best acquisition in 2024/25,” the Premier League states.
“A model of consistency at right-back, or at wing-back, the former Manchester United defender has been a great asset with and without the ball.
“Only two players across the league have made more interceptions than Wan-Bissaka, who leads the West Ham rankings by some distance in the majority of defensive categories.
“The 27-year-old has also got forward excellently this season, adding plenty of width and penetration to West Ham’s attacks.
“His assist for Jarrod Bowen’s goal at Arsenal was a highlight, as was his goal against the Gunners at London Stadium.
“With skill and pace aplenty, he is a great outlet for Graham Potter’s side down the flank.”
Are you listening England manager Thomas Tuchel?
His compatriot Steidten will point to Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Summerville and perhaps in time Todibo as evidence he wasn’t all bad for West Ham.
If the Hammers are able to double their money on Kudus then that will be another feather in his cap too.