Crystal Palace and West Ham's January Transfer Agreement Emerges - And Why the Deal Collapsed
By Jamie Kemble
Football Reporter
Published 5th Feb 2026, 11:19 GMT
West Ham and Crystal Palace are said to have struck a deal during the January transfer window, only for it to fall through at the last moment, according to recent reports.
Palace's Perplexing Transfer Window
Crystal Palace made headlines for all the wrong reasons during the January transfer window, with their business decisions leaving many fans baffled. The Eagles kicked off their window by selling captain Marc Guehi months before he was due to leave the club for free, pocketing £20million but at the expense of their best player.
Palace then signed Brennan Johnson and secured Evann Guessand on loan, but they dropped the ball when their sale of Jean-Philippe Mateta fell through. Despite this, they still went through with a £47million deal to sign one-goal striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The Nketiah-Wilson Swap That Never Happened
The Athletic have now reported that Palace had agreed a deal in principle to sell Eddie Nketiah to West Ham for £27m early in the window. However, the striker sustained a hamstring injury in training, meaning any possible January move was moot. Nketiah has not featured this calendar year.
As part of the proposed arrangement, Palace would have secured West Ham's Callum Wilson in a separate deal, but manager Oliver Glasner was initially unconvinced. By the time he became more open to securing the striker, Wilson had scored a winning goal against Tottenham in the middle of the month and his reintegration into the first team had scuppered any chance of him leaving.
Analyzing the Potential Impact
That's a huge claim with significant implications for both clubs. Palace would have made their money back on Nketiah, who has struggled with injury, but the former Arsenal striker has plenty of upside still to come at 26 years of age. Given Mateta will almost certainly leave in the summer, a Larsen and Nketiah tandem could have made sense for Palace's attacking options.
Wilson has also had his fair share of injuries, and at 33 years of age, there is no guarantee that he will remain Premier League quality next season. This would have represented a substantial risk for Crystal Palace. The double deal might have helped them short-term, but it would have left them in a complicated situation next season, with Larsen and a likely past-it backup striker, assuming Mateta's departure.
Questionable Decision-Making at Selhurst Park
It's another baffling Palace thought-process that leaves fans wondering about the sporting direction at the club as they begin their search for a new manager to replace Oliver Glasner this summer. The January window has raised serious questions about the club's transfer strategy and long-term planning.
West Ham's Perspective
As for West Ham, they likely would have had the better of that deal, even if Wilson has returned to form somewhat over recent weeks. The £27million investment in Nketiah would have had the potential to come back to bite them, particularly given they could be facing Championship football next season. The collapsed deal represents a missed opportunity for the Hammers to strengthen their attacking options.
The failed transfer highlights the complex nature of January window negotiations and how quickly circumstances can change in professional football.
