After being relegated to the Championship, West Ham may now have a route to move Edson Álvarez on. Monterrey are reportedly pushing to take the midfielder back to Mexico after a difficult loan spell at Fenerbahçe.
The 28-year-old spent the season in Turkey after leaving West Ham on a temporary deal, but it never really settled into the reset he needed.
Álvarez made 17 appearances for Fenerbahçe this season, with one assist, across the Süper Lig and Europa League. His loan also runs until June 30th, while his West Ham contract lasts until 2028.
That leaves West Ham with a decision to make after relegation. Álvarez is still their player, but the picture around him has changed a lot since his arrival from Ajax in 2023.
Monterrey open talks
Mexican newspaperEl Universal report that Monterrey have started negotiations with West Ham to sign Edson Álvarez on loan.
The Mexican club have just appointed Matías Almeyda as manager and are already moving for reinforcements. Álvarez is said to be one of their main targets.
For West Ham, that interest arrives at a useful time. Fenerbahçe had an option to buy, but Álvarez’s injury-hit season makes a permanent deal there look less straightforward.
Additional reports in Mexico now suggest the push is coming directly from Almeyda himself. Journalist David Faitelson stated Edson Álvarez is expected to become the first signing of the new Monterrey project under the Argentine coach.
Monterrey appear to be actively reshaping the squad around Almeyda after his arrival this week.
Why Almeyda wants him
Edson Álvarez still carries major weight in Mexican football despite the difficult year in Turkey.
He captains the national team and remains one of the country’s most experienced European-based players.
During the Mexico-Ghana match, he came off the bench in the second half and immediately brought leadership and control in midfield, something local media heavily highlighted while discussing Monterrey’s interest.
Reports in Mexico also insist Almeyda sees him as an ideal fit for his football. The former AEK Athens and Chivas manager usually demands aggressive pressing, intensity and tactical flexibility from midfielders.
Álvarez can operate as a holding midfielder or centre-back. Across his career at Ajax, West Ham and Mexico, he has built a reputation around ball recoveries, defensive positioning and physical presence.
Even in an injury-hit campaign, those qualities have not disappeared. Monterrey believe they are still signing a player with top-level European experience and World Cup pedigree.
West Ham face important decision
For West Ham, the situation now becomes quite practical. Álvarez turned 28, remains under contract until 2028 and still holds a €15m (£12.6m) valuation according to Transfermarkt.
However, relegation changes the landscape around several players. The midfielder originally arrived with expectations of becoming a long-term Premier League anchor after his move from Ajax. Instead, injuries and instability have disrupted the last year of his career.
Mexican reports claim Monterrey could attempt either another loan or a permanent transfer. There is even talk the Liga MX side are prepared to make one of the biggest investments in their recent history to bring him back home after the 2026 World Cup.
That would fit the wider rebuild taking place at Monterrey.
Club president José Antonio Noriega and sporting chief Tato Noriega are reportedly planning a squad centred around experienced names such as Sergio Canales and Jesús Corona, while also strengthening midfield and defence.
What happens next
Edson Álvarez is expected to return to West Ham formally at the end of June once his Fenerbahçe loan expires. From there, the situation could move quickly.
Monterrey’s interest appears serious, Almeyda is personally pushing for the signing, and West Ham now have a player returning from an underwhelming loan spell after relegation to the Championship. Álvarez, however, reportedly prioritised to stay in Europe after his time in Turkey.
Whether the Hammers prefer a sale or another temporary exit may become the key issue in negotiations.
Still, after a season where Álvarez struggled for rhythm and fitness in Turkey, a return to Mexico increasingly looks like a realistic outcome.