**Axel Disasi has proven a huge hit at West Ham. But is he the Irons’ best January loan signing of the Premier League era?**
The Hammers have had their fair share of dreadful January loans over the years. Evan Ferguson preceded Disasi in 2025 and made no impact. The Irish striker made eight appearances for the Irons, but I can’t remember a single thing he did.
Then there are the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Roger Johnson, players who actively hindered West Ham during their spells. Roger “The Relegator” almost dragged us to relegation, whilst Phillips ruined what could have been a dream season.
I also think it’s interesting to note that we sacrificed Pablo Fornals, Saïd Benrahma and Thilo Kehrer to acquire the Englishman from Manchester City in January 2024 **_\*sigh\*_.**
But that’s not to say the Hammers haven’t had some excellent January loan signings as well. Jesse Lingard is always the first name brought up in these conversations, and with good reason.
After making the move from Manchester United in 2021, Lingard scored a brace on his debut against Aston Villa. He would go on to score seven goals in his next 15 games, firing the Irons to Europa League qualification.
Things eventually went sour with Lingard, but every West Ham fan looks back on early 2021 with great fondness, in no small part due to his huge contribution.
Another midfielder who proved popular in East London was João Mário, whom the Irons acquired in January 2018. Signed on loan from Inter Milan, the Portuguese international was a surprisingly effective attacking option during David Moyes’ first spell at the club.
As was the case with Lingard, many West Ham supporters wanted the club to sign Mário permanently. But unfortunately, a move never materialised.
That’s the fear with Axel Disasi. The well-known phrase “never fall in love with a loan player” has been thrown around amid praise of the Chelsea loanee.
Even if West Ham stay up this season, Chelsea’s £30+ million price tag could prove an obstacle too large, especially given the Hammers’ recent financial troubles.
That has often been the case with West Ham loan signings. They have been short-lived moments of joy for supporters. But in most cases, we never saw the sequel.
That’s why West Ham’s best January loan signing of the Premier League era – maybe their best loan signing of all time – is Tomáš Souček.
Signed on loan from Slavia Prague in 2020, Souček was imperative to the survival of a West Ham side that looked doomed to be relegated.
After the Roberto disasterclass of late 2019, the Irons were in a desperate state. But Souček’s arrival, along with the permanent transfer of Jarrod Bowen, would shape West Ham’s future up until the present day.
After impressing in his 13 appearances that season, West Ham made the move permanent, and Souček has proved to be a defining figure at the club this decade.
Souček has made 277 appearances for the Irons, scoring 46 goals in all competitions. Despite what some may say, he is one of West Ham’s most important players of the Premier League era.
And he is certainly the Irons’ best January loan signing of the last 30 years.