Flynn Downes: West Ham sign Swansea midfielder on five-year contract
7 July 2022 Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Flynn Downes was a regular in the Championship for Swansea last season West Ham have signed Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes on a five-year contract, in a deal understood to be worth about £12m. The 23-year-old joined the Championship side from League One club Ipswich last summer on a four-year deal. However, he excelled last term and attracted the attention of a number of clubs. Downes will wear the number 12 shirt and said it is "surreal" to be joining his boyhood club. "I feel like I'm dreaming," said Downes, who has the option for another year in his new deal at London Stadium. "It's been my dream since I was a little boy to join this club - it's an absolute privilege. This is my club, so I couldn't be more delighted. I'm glad to be here and I can't wait to get started. "I want to be the best I can be and this feels like the perfect opportunity to test myself against the very best players in the Premier League. "Players have come to West Ham from the Championship and progressed to international honours. That's something you can't ignore. The manager's track record of bringing players through was a big motivation in me joining the club." Former England Under-20s international Downes, who was born in Brentwood, Essex, made his senior debut at Ipswich in 2017 and went on to make 99 appearances in all competitions for the club. Last season he played 32 games for Swansea in the Championship as they finished 15th. Hammers boss David Moyes added: "We are pleased to have signed Flynn and are looking forward to bringing him into the group. "We think he's got good energy. We think he's got a lot of things which we have about our team, which we would want to keep and want to add to. I'm looking forward to it. "We brought Jarrod Bowen from a similar situation at Hull, so we're always trying to find boys from the Championship who we think are going to step up to become Premier League players. I'm hoping that Flynn does. "I think there's a good chance as he's got an awful lot of good attributes."
It’s a surreal feeling – Flynn Downes signs for boyhood club West Ham
West Ham have signed Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire) West Ham United have signed Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes on a five-year contract. Hammers manager David Moyes took an active role in the scouting and recruitment of the 23-year-old to the club he supported as boy. Flynn’s contract includes the option of a further 12-month extension. “We think he’s got good energy. We think he’s got a lot of things which we have about our team, which would want to keep and want to add to,” said Moyes, who is prepared to give the player time to settle in. “We brought Jarrod Bowen from a similar situation at Hull, so we’re always trying to find boys from the Championship who we think are going to step up to become Premier League players. “I’m hoping that Flynn does. I think there’s a good chance as he’s got an awful lot of good attributes.” The former England Under-20 international has already made almost 150 career appearances but could not hide his delight at signing. “It’s a surreal feeling to have joined my boyhood club, I feel like I’m dreaming,” he said. “The manager’s track record of bringing players through was a big motivation in me joining the club. “I want to be the best I can be and this feels like the perfect opportunity to test myself against the very best players in the Premier League. “Players have come to West Ham from the Championship and progressed to international honours. That’s something you can’t ignore.”
West Ham United sign midfielder Flynn Downes