West Ham United appear to have overcome any late issues regarding the signing of Chelsea defender Axel Disasi while fighting off Massimiliano Allegri’s AC Milan in the process.
The France international is expected to join Nuno Espirito Santo at the London Stadium while becoming their fifth signing of the January transfer window.
The market may have closed at 7pm but, according to West Ham United insider Sean Whetstone, the requisite deal sheet was filled in and submitted just in time. Axel Disasi is expected to be unveiled imminently, potentially at at around 9pm this evening.
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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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There were concerns that the Chelsea misfit would eventually reject the move. Clubs in Turkey and Russia remain open until February 11th and February 19th, respectively.
The Hammers appear to have just about crept over the line, though. And, according to veteran Italian reporter Carlo Pellegatti, Nuno’s gain is Massimiliano Allegri’s loss.
Axel Disasi is set for West Ham United but Max Allegri wanted him at AC Milan
Axel Disasi during FC Astana v Chelsea FC - UEFA Conference League 2024/25 League Phase MD5
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Disasi reportedly made AC Milan his first-choice destination. While some have suggested that Allegri was behind the decision to call off the defender’s proposed move to San Siro, Pellegatti insists that this could not be further from the truth.
“First of all, let’s be very clear. I read today that Disasi won’t come because Allegri doesn’t like him. I’m telling you this out loud, it’s not true,” Pellegatti says on his YouTube channel. “If Disasi had arrived, it would have been perfect for Allegri.
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“He was one of the players Allegri had said ‘OK’ [to signing]. For Allegri, it was perfect. I have very direct sources on this matter so, if I tell you that it was perfect for Allegri, [then] it was perfect.”
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Corriere dello Sport report that the main concern, from Milan’s perspective, is that it would take Disasi some time to get up to speed. The former Monaco powerhouse has not played a Premier League match since April 2025, when he was on loan at Aston Villa.
Hammers News can confirm that Disasi had reservations about moving to West Ham at a time when Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo were performing impressively.
However, Todibo’s three-game suspension has now opened the door for his fellow Frenchman to nail down a starting spot, potentially starting with Saturday’s trip to Burnley.
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