There has not been much for West Ham fans to get excited about in the early days of the summer transfer window but news about a big favourite of theirs will certainly make them smile.
Graham Potter is plotting a big midfield overhaul at West Ham.
The slow, ageing, immobile collection of midfielders the Hammers have managed to assemble is the club’s single biggest problem.
There is a real lack of ability on the ball, class, guile and vision about West Ham’s midfield.
That threatens to get worse with Lucas Paqueta being sold if he isn’t banned.
Slow start as West Ham plan midfield rebuild
Many Hammers fans have bemoaned the fact the club sold the likes of Pablo Fornals, feeling he would have been perfect for what Potter wants in the middle of the park.
Even casting minds back to the Slaven Bilic era, West Ham had infinitely better midfield options.
But as Potter plots his rebuild, it is a player from Bilic’s memorable spell that has probably brought the best news of the window so far.
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Pedro Obiang was a hugely popular figure in east London, and – as was the case with his fellow former Spain Under 21 star Fornals – many West Ham fans were sad to see him leave after four years.
Photo by Craig Mercer - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Craig Mercer – CameraSport via Getty Images
Obiang is fondly remembered by Hammers fans as a lovely player but also for being a great character and positive team member.
The midfielder, who scored that rocket against Spurs at Wembley, went down in Hammers folklore as the man who allegedly removed Dimitri Payet from the West Ham WhatsApp group chat when the Frenchman downed tools to force a move back to Marseille, as reported by The Independent at the time.
What West Ham would do for two players like Obiang and Payet now.
Obiang has suffered a torrid time since leaving West Ham for Sassuolo – the club the Hammers bought Gianluca Scamacca from.
Obiang brings West Ham fans the best news of the window so far
Fans were concerned after Sassuolo confirmed Obiang was suffering from a serious lung disorder that put his football career on hold and threatened to end it early.
Obiang was out for nearly two years with the issue in the end.
When he eventually returned he could only play the odd game here and there.
Last season, he finally had the strength to be able to play regularly and helped Sassuolo to the Serie B title – and promotion back to the Italian big time.
But the former Hammer only managed 13 starts from his 35 appearances overall.
With West Ham unable to make any signings until players have been sold, there has not been much to make supporters happy.
But news about Obiang should certainly change that.
Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images
Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images
From the verge of retirement due to illness to a move at 33
Because not only is the 33-year-old going to continue playing next season, he has landed himself a move over in Italy.
Fabrizio Romano revealed last night that Obiang is signing for Monza after successful medical tests.
Romano says it is a deal wanted by former AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani – who is now heading up Monza’s recruitment – and was finalised last night.
🚨 Excl: Pedro Obiang signs in as new Monza player leaving Sassuolo with medical tests ongoing right now.
Deal wanted by Adriano Galliani, closed today. pic.twitter.com/Cvr5mIvdW5
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 5, 2025
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Now Monza have confirmed what is the feelgood story of the window so far for West Ham fans.
In an announcement on the club’s website, it is fantastic to see Obiang wearing his trademark smile and glasses and looking fit and well as he signs a one-year deal with Monza, who have just been relegated from Serie A.
“After five seasons in which he made 139 appearances and scored 4 goals, he left Sampdoria to begin a new experience in the Premier League with West Ham,” the club statement reads.
“In England he played 116 games with 3 goals in 4 seasons before returning to Italy in the summer of 2019, to wear the Sassuolo shirt.
“With the black-green club he confirmed himself as a midfielder with excellent vision of the game, adding another five consecutive championships in Serie A to his curriculum, where he reached a total of 182 appearances with 5 goals.
“In the season just ended he was Captain and a great protagonist in Sassuolo’s brilliant ride to Promotion, which immediately returned to Serie A after the 2024 relegation.
“Welcome Pedro.”
The Monza announcement says ‘Obiang is red and white’ but deep down he’ll always be claret and blue.