By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham have completed the signing of Joel Piroe from Leeds United, giving Nuno Espírito Santo a desperately needed striker ahead of Saturday’s Championship clash with Charlton Athletic.
The 27-year-old has joined the Hammers on loan for the remainder of the 2026/27 season.
The deal is believed to include an option to buy, should West Ham get promoted to the Premier league at the end of the campaign.
Piroe certainly knows his way around the Championship, having scored 73 league goals during spells with Swansea City and Leeds. That experience should give him every opportunity to hit the ground running at the London Stadium.
The striker who will wear No9 was delighted to join and said: “It’s a joy to have got everything over the line, I’m delighted to be here and I’m ready to go”
Piroe Wasn’t My First Choice
I’ll make no secret of the fact that Piroe wasn’t many supporters’ first choice, and he certainly wasn’t mine.
West Ham moved quickly for the Leeds striker after the Troy Parrott deal collapsed, and initially it felt very much like an emergency option.
But circumstances have changed somewhat.
Piroe is ready made for the Championship
With the squad painfully thin and the club seemingly struggling to get players over the line, I’m at the point where I welcome anybody who genuinely wants to play for West Ham.
And Piroe is certainly a competent striker. His Championship goalscoring record speaks for itself and, at this level, he should be a very useful addition.
My concern is that Nuno still needs considerably more attacking help.
Pablo’s calf injury leaves him unavailable for Charlton, making it highly likely that Piroe will make his West Ham debut this weekend. But even with the Dutchman through the door, I still believe we’re light in the striker department.
Then there’s the biggest issue of all – pace.
I’ve been banging this drum throughout the summer. West Ham remain an incredibly slow team and desperately need attackers capable of stretching a defence and running in behind.
Piroe adds goals, experience and much-needed depth.
That’s very welcome.
But hopefully he isn’t the last attacking player through the door.
Parrott was my first choice and believe we are penny pinching. However I won’t start slating the player and hope he does well for us . I still think we need another striker with pace and wingers midfield with pace. Like you we are short of pace in my opinion. I know we need players all over the pitch rather than just selling. Just to remind the board and Nuno of their words “ taking out time to get recruitment right “ no evidence of that it looks wrong at present .” We don’t need to sell first team players “. Where’s the evidence of that we’re selling everyone , let’s hope it does not weaken us so far we can’t compete at the top . This is what worries me !
91 appearances 41 goals for Swansea, 104 appearances 32 goals for Leeds. Seems to be of requisite quality at this level, as does Solomon.
Think you’ve nailed it when you said we need players who genuinely want to play for West ham . Effort and commitment is everything required from players experienced or academy.
Not sure this signing makes much sense given our lack of strikers. I hope it is an option to buy on promotion rather than an obligation to buy on promotion which has been widely reported elsewhere as he isn’t Premier League standard. I also don’t believe he suits Nervous Nuno’s tactical style since he is lacks pace, mobility and is a pure finisher relying on others to create the opportunities for him. Want away Taty is currently in no mood to do the grafting for him so I fear he will be an isolated flop for us. The other thing is he was 3rd choice at Leeds meaning he has had no pre-season to speak of so will need time to get match fit.
Tatty can score, Piroe can score, Pablo can’t. But he is high energy, which is seriously lacking in midfield. I see no reason why Pablo can’t be converted to a pretty useful combative high energy midfielder this season. I like what Pablo brings to the team, I know others just look in the goals column but it has to be said that his energy higher up the pitch takes the pressure off of our defence and we have played better with him on the pitch than without.
Gonzo, to make a realistic challenge for the title we need a central defender, a work alcoholic midfielder to close down edge of the box and break away attacks, full back who can cover both sides and another forward. Past that the bench looks poor, so lots of work to do. One question in my mind is would Pablo be better in midfield? He works hard and closes down well and we missed that 2nd half on Sunday.
Parrott must have refused a move to us, if he’s going to Betis for € 20 million
Must have heard Nuno planned to set him up in defence
Let’s give this Piroe lad a chance and get behind him
COYI
The club state its an obligation to buy next summer NOT an option.
IF we get promoted. A rather crucial criteria.
If Vardy has no intention of signng for WHU despite him training there, tell him to sod off to wherever he decides he will play this coming season. If he wants to sign & stay, I am happy with that too.
Creativity in my opinion is more pressing than pace. We’re okay on the wings but through the middle we don’t have any so Piroe’s good record in the Championship might not be so good unless that is addressed.
Creativity isn’t a Nuno thing but that’s due to being a one trick, vastly over paid pony. That was my opinion when Sullivan signed him and everything Nuno has done since adds further eight to my thinking.