West Ham United are on the verge of finalising a season-long loan agreement for Manchester City midfielder Divine Mukasa, continuing a busy summer of midfield rebuilding at the London Stadium.
The 18-year-old is expected to become the Hammers' latest addition in the middle of the park, arriving shortly after the club completed the signing of Arne Engels from Celtic in a deal that could rise to £25 million with add-ons included.
Mukasa is regarded as one of the standout products of Manchester City's academy system and has already tasted senior football, both domestically and on loan. Last season, he spent the second half of the campaign at Leicester City, contributing two goals and three assists across 15 Championship appearances as the Foxes battled through a difficult period in the second tier.
His development has been closely tracked at the Etihad, where he also broke into City's first team, making six senior appearances for the reigning-era Premier League powerhouse. Comfortable operating in several attacking roles, Mukasa has featured as an attacking midfielder, a right-sided wide player, and even as a central striker, underlining his versatility.
His pedigree within City's youth setup is considerable. Mukasa was part of the side that lifted the FA Youth Cup and was directly involved in an eye-catching 42 goals and assists in 41 appearances for City's Under-18s during the 2024/25 season, numbers that have long marked him out as one of the most promising talents to emerge from the club's academy in recent years.
For West Ham, the pursuit of Mukasa fits into a broader pattern of squad turnover in midfield this summer. The club has had to address gaps left by significant departures, most notably the £85 million sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the exit of academy graduate Freddie Potts, who moved to Belgian side Club Brugge.
There is also expected to be further change in West Ham's midfield ranks before the transfer window closes. Mexican international Edson Alvarez looks set to depart the club, with several European sides reportedly monitoring his situation. Real Sociedad are said to be furthest along in negotiations, working toward a loan agreement that would include an option to convert the move into a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
Should the Mukasa deal be completed, it would represent a low-risk, high-potential addition for West Ham, giving the club a young, technically gifted player with Premier League and academy pedigree, while allowing him regular first-team football away from the intense competition for places at City. The Hammers' recruitment approach this window has combined marquee investment, exemplified by the Engels deal, with opportunistic loan business aimed at giving emerging talents like Mukasa a platform to continue their development.
With the transfer window still open, further incomings and outgoings are possible as West Ham continue shaping their squad under manager Graham Potter, who has prioritised strengthening midfield depth and flexibility following last season's upheavals.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.