Edson Álvarez’s time at West Ham has never quite developed in the way either the club or the player would have imagined when he arrived from Ajax three years ago.
Signed in the summer of 2023 to strengthen the midfield following Declan Rice’s mega-money move to Arsenal, the Mexico international arrived with an impressive reputation after winning two Eredivisie titles, lifting the KNVB Cup and becoming one of Ajax’s most consistent performers.
West Ham believed they were recruiting an experienced defensive midfielder entering the prime years of his career, but his spell in east London has instead been shaped by inconsistency, managerial change and, more recently, a lengthy spell away from the club.
Last season proved particularly difficult.
Álvarez spent the campaign on loan at Fenerbahçe in an attempt to rediscover regular football. However, that move never truly gathered momentum.
A serious injury requiring surgery midway through the season restricted his involvement significantly, limiting him to just 18 appearances across all competitions before he eventually returned in time to feature for Mexico at the 2026 World Cup.
By the end of the campaign, questions surrounding his long-term future had only grown louder.
The situation has left West Ham with an important decision.
Álvarez still has the qualities that made him one of Europe’s most respected holding midfielders during his time in Amsterdam, but after spending an entire season away from the London Stadium, a fresh start increasingly appears to suit all parties.
That explains why interest is beginning to emerge from clubs who already know exactly what the 28-year-old can offer.
With West Ham continuing to reshape their squad following relegation from the Premier League, moving on players who no longer feature prominently in their long-term plans has become an important part of the club’s rebuild.
Álvarez falls into that category, making this summer a logical time for all sides to assess their options.
Real Sociedad and Ajax vying to sign West Ham’s Edson Alvarez
Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Álvarez is expected to leave West Ham this summer, with the first club-to-club talks already taking place between the Hammers and Real Sociedad.
Romano also states that Ajax are fully informed about the situation and are actively working on a deal to bring the midfielder back to the Johan Cruyff Arena.
The update suggests the race could quickly develop into a straight contest between Spain and the Netherlands.
Ajax have never hidden their admiration for a player who developed into one of the Eredivisie’s best midfielders during four successful seasons in Amsterdam.
He made more than 140 appearances for the Dutch giants, won multiple trophies and played a key role in their Champions League campaigns before West Ham completed his £35 million move.
Bringing him back would provide immediate experience to a squad that has become considerably younger in recent transfer windows.
Real Sociedad also present an interesting destination.
The Spanish side have built a reputation for intelligent recruitment, regularly targeting technically disciplined players capable of thriving in a possession-based system.
For West Ham, agreeing a permanent transfer would finally draw a line under a move that never consistently delivered the impact many expected.
For Álvarez, meanwhile, it would represent an opportunity to rebuild momentum after a frustrating campaign interrupted by injury and uncertainty over his future.