LONDON — West Ham United has officially signed Lazio forward Valentín “Taty” Castellanos on Monday, a move that reflects the support for the club’s under-pressure coach, Nuno Espírito Santo.
The club’s announcement highlighted that Castellanos was “identified as a key target” by Nuno, signaling confidence in the coach amidst mounting speculation regarding his future.
In a conversation on the club’s website, Castellanos expressed gratitude towards his new teammates and coach, saying, “The guys have welcomed me really well, the coach and all.”
Nuno, who took the helm in September, faced scrutiny after Saturday’s disheartening 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton, a team that had yet to secure a win this season, leaving West Ham in 18th place in the Premier League.
Following the loss to Wolves, Nuno described it as the most challenging moment of his career, stating he felt embarrassed by the performance.
West Ham’s next match is against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Castellanos has signed a four-and-a-half-year agreement with an option for an additional year, although the transfer fee has not been disclosed.
This season, Castellanos has netted twice in 12 appearances for Lazio, overcoming a hamstring injury that affected his playing time. He has also represented Argentina in two matches and previously won the MLS Cup with New York City FC, scoring in all three playoff games, including the opening goal in the final.
He joined Lazio in 2023, finishing his tenure with 22 goals across 98 games.
Information from The Associated Press was utilized in this report.