West Ham Sign Joel Piroe on Loan with Obligation to Buy in 2027

West Ham United have moved to bolster their attack with the signing of Joel Piroe from Leeds United on a season-long loan, tied to an obligation to buy in the summer of 2027.

The 27-year-old arrives in east London with a heavyweight Championship record. Across four seasons in the second tier, first with Swansea City and then Leeds, Piroe scored 73 league goals. He finished as Leeds' top scorer in the 2024-25 campaign, driving their title-winning charge and underlining his status as one of the division’s most reliable finishers.

The step up to the Premier League, though, has not yet yielded the same returns. Piroe failed to score in 16 top-flight appearances last season, a barren spell that ultimately opened the door for his move to West Ham.

For the striker, this feels like a reset.

"I think it's a good opportunity for me to show what I've learned and how I've grown as a football player over the years," he told West Ham’s website, framing the move as a chance to prove he can translate his Championship dominance to the highest level.

Born in the Netherlands and now a Suriname international, Piroe came through at PSV Eindhoven and took his first senior steps during a loan spell at Sparta Rotterdam. His career truly caught fire only after his move to England, where he evolved into a prolific second-tier forward and a constant threat in and around the box.

West Ham have kept the financial details under wraps. The club have not disclosed the fee agreed for the 2027 permanent transfer, nor the length of the contract that would follow once the obligation to buy is triggered.

What is clear is that Piroe joins a significant rebuild. He becomes West Ham’s fifth permanent recruit of the summer window, following Venezuela midfielder Keiber Lamadrid, Dutch defender Joel Veltman, Israel winger Manor Solomon and Belgium midfielder Arne Engels.

Another proven goalscorer. Another international added to a reshaped squad. Now the question is simple: can Piroe finally make his mark in the Premier League?