By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham rejected the opportunity to sign Benfica and Norway winger Andreas Schjelderup before deciding to bring fellow Norwegian Edvin Austbø to the London Stadium, Claret & Hugh can exclusively reveal.
C&H has been informed by an agent close to the proposed deal that Schjelderup was offered to West Ham during the transfer window, with Benfica prepared to agree a loan containing an obligation to buy if the Hammers were promoted.
Our source told us:
“Schjelderup was offered to West Ham. It was a £5m loan fee with an obligation to buy if they got promoted to the Premier League.”
West Ham ultimately decided against pursuing the 22-year-old and instead moved for Austbø, who joined from Viking late in the window.
It provides a fascinating glimpse into Nils Koppen’s recruitment thinking because Schjelderup is hardly an unknown quantity.
Schjelderup Had Just Shone At The World Cup
The Benfica winger was one of Norway’s breakout performers during this summer’s World Cup.
Schjelderup provided two assists as Norway produced a huge upset to beat Brazil 2-1 in the last 16, before starting the quarter-final against England.
And West Ham supporters might remember what happened next.
Schjelderup scored Norway’s opening goal against Thomas Tuchel’s team before England eventually fought back to win 2-1 after extra-time and reach the semi-finals.
He had previously established his reputation with FC Nordsjælland in Denmark, earning a €9million move to Benfica in January 2023.
Capable of playing from the left or further forward, Schjelderup is known primarily as a technical attacking player who likes to come inside from the flank.
But West Ham had another Norwegian winger in mind.
Austbø was Nils Koppen’s first choice winger
West Ham Chose Austbø Instead
The Hammers completed the signing of 21-year-old Edvin Austbø from Viking on a four-year contract with the option of another year.
And it’s difficult not to view the two decisions together.
West Ham were offered a 22-year-old Norway international who had just impressed at the World Cup but decided not to proceed, before subsequently signing another young Norwegian winger.
Austbø arrives with an impressive reputation of his own.
He scored six goals and provided seven assists as Viking won the 2025 Norwegian title and was subsequently named the Eliteserien Young Player of the Year.
His final appearance for his boyhood club also saw him score as Viking beat Dinamo Zagreb to qualify for the Champions League league phase.
As I wrote following the transfer, Austbø is exactly the type of signing I’ve wanted to see West Ham make: young, quick and with plenty of potential for improvement.
Time will tell whether Nils Koppen picked the right Norwegian.
Perhaps next time Austo was probably cheaper.
West ham looking at the £ £ £s.
Gonzo, please check your sources on this one. As a Norwegian myself I’ve held a keen eye on potential transfers.
Here is why this seems strange to me:
1. During the window, Benfica stated he was a fundamental part of the team (9 goals and 6 assists last year), and they did not want to let him go.
2. Amidst interest from Spurs and others, Benfica revealed his buyout clause. This is set at €100m.
3. He personally went attacked the media for posting reputations that he did not want a contract extension and was pushing for a move.
I’m sorry for being direct, I just find it strange that a player that does not want to leave, the club has said hands off to PL sides and with a clause at 100m Euros suddenly is offered to West Ham..
For the record, if Koppen declined Scheldrup over Austbø, we have a very serious problem…
Delighted with Maximilian Kilman then? He has plenty of potential for improvement.
How many more typical C&H post transfer window articles on who we could have signed? I’m only interested in who we have signed and if they will improve the team to secure a play off place.
Presumably the other stories about this guy were wrong, Spurs offering 45m euros at the start of last month, or that Benfica were looking for a significant sum
Norway are blessed with young rising talents on the Left Wing atm. Presumably, we didn’t think the eventual purchase price was to future value was as attractive as that for Austbø? I would have been really disappointed if it had been Nusa we turned down though