Official: Defender leaves

Arthur Masuaku has left West Ham on loan, per the club’s official website.

The left-back has joined Turkish side Besiktas on an initial season-long loan with a view to making the deal permanent.

The Hammers have not made it clear if there is an obligation for the club to buy him or simply an option.

Masuaku is a DR Congo international with 11 caps and had been with the Hammers since 2016, when he signed from Greek club Olympiacos.

He has fallen slowly down the pecking order, however, and only made 13 Premier League appearances last season, of which just six were starts.

In total, Masuaku made 128 appearances for the Irons and scored two goals, while also laying on a total of 10 assists.

The Irons will now aim to bring in a replacement for the Congolese ace, with Aaron Cresswell currently the only out-and-out option in the position.

The club are still pursuing a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic.