West Ham Signs Joel Piroe on Loan with Obligation to Buy in 2027

West Ham United have moved to bolster their attack with the signing of Joel Piroe from Leeds United on a season-long loan, tied to an obligation to buy in the summer of 2027.

The 27-year-old arrives with a formidable Championship record. Across four seasons in the second tier, first with Swansea City and then Leeds, Piroe hit 73 league goals, establishing himself as one of the division’s most reliable finishers. He led Leeds’ scoring charts in the 2024-25 campaign, driving their title-winning charge.

The step up to the Premier League has been harsher. Piroe failed to score in 16 top-flight appearances last season, a stark contrast to his prolific form in the Championship and a reminder of the gap between the divisions.

For the striker, this move is about proving he belongs at the highest level.

"I think it's a good opportunity for me to show what I've learned and how I've grown as a football player over the years," Piroe told West Ham’s website, laying out his intent as he starts a new chapter in London.

Born in the Netherlands but now a Suriname international, Piroe came through at PSV Eindhoven and spent time on loan at Sparta Rotterdam before crossing to England, where he quickly found his range in the second tier. His numbers there made him a coveted asset for clubs seeking goals without paying elite-level fees.

West Ham have kept the finer details under wraps. The club have not disclosed the agreed fee for the 2027 permanent move, nor the length of Piroe’s proposed contract once the obligation to buy is triggered.

What is clear is that he forms part of a broader rebuild. Piroe becomes West Ham’s fifth permanent addition of the summer window, following Venezuela midfielder Keiber Lamadrid, Dutch defender Joel Veltman, Israel winger Manor Solomon and Belgium midfielder Arne Engels.

The question now is simple: can a proven Championship marksman finally turn those numbers into Premier League goals in claret and blue?