When the West Ham United supporters demanded a central defender during the January transfer window, one suspects that a 33-year-old from England’s second tier was not the one they had in mind.
If Axel Disasi is a bit of a risk – the Chelsea misfit has not played a competitive first-team game since April 2025 – it is a risk which could bring considerable rewards.
Disasi has dominated the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe at his best.
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We're closing in on a defender, but is he the right one?! 👀
A graphic showing Axel Disasi being set for a medical at West Ham ahead of a loan move from Chelsea.
Credit: Getty Images/ Harry Murphy – Danehouse
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His addition will add top-level experience, tactical flexibility and real physicality to West Ham United’s backline.
If the fans are willing to accept a five-time France international – albeit one who has spent the last year in the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ – Hull City’s John Egan would have been a much harder sell.
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Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic speaks out on John Egan amid West Ham United links
talkSPORT’s Alex Crook reported after the 3-2 defeat by Chelsea that the Hammers had enquired about the former Burnley, Sheffield United and Brentford giant.
In his mid-30s, Egan would have been a short-term squad option, though an extremely underwhelming one signed by a club who went into the window with Charlie Cresswell as their number one target.
John Egan during Stoke City v Hull City - Sky Bet Championship
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Speaking ahead of Hull’s Championship clash with Watford on Tuesday night, though, Tigers coach Sergej Jakirovic admitted that he expects Egan to remain on Humberside.
“What I know, so far, [is] there are no bids yet from these clubs,” Jakirovic tells the Hull Daily Mail. “So, I’m calm. I think he will stay with us but, if something comes, the player will decide, of course. Because if you want to go, what can I do?
“I want him to stay, of course, so because of this, I’m avoiding him! I will speak with him now, but nothing has come yet.”
A 33-year-old from the Championship? Really? 🤯
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John Egan of Hull City encourages calm with teammates during the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Hull City at Riverside Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Middlesbrough, England.
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Interestingly, Jakirovic was linked with West Ham himself at a time when serious questions were starting to be asked for the first time about Nuno Espirito Santo’s safety.
Jakirovic described those West Ham links as ‘flattering’ in an interview with Croatian publication Sportske Novosti.
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