West Ham have reportedly agreed to sell academy graduate Freddie Potts to Club Brugge in a deal worth just over £10million.
The 22-year-old was expected to be a key member of the Hammers’ squad in their upcoming Championship season, as they seek an immediate return to the top flight.
But Potts – the son of club icon Steve – now looks set to end his 17-year association with the club he first joined as a six-year-old.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Belgian side Club Brugge have agreed a deal worth €12m (£10.2m) for the midfielder.
Despite a move appearing close, Potts was named on West Ham’s bench for their final pre-season friendly against German second division side FC Magdeburg.
The young Englishman did not feature in the clash though, as the Irons rounded off their season’s preparations with a 1-1 draw.
And the east London outfit now look to have been dealt a late blow ahead of their campaign, with Potts seemingly destined to leave.
If his move to Brugge goes through, the midfielder will be swapping the Championship for Champions League football, after the Belgian giants qualified by clinching league glory last term.
According to the report, Potts is being lined up as a replacement for Raphael Onyedika.
The Nigeria international is closing in on a move to Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt for a rumoured £7.6m fee.
Pott twist
Potts’ anticipated West Ham exit comes just as he looked to set to play a greater role for the club in the Championship.
The local lad made 22 Premier League appearances last season, starting 12 times as the Hammers were relegated on the final day.
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But having spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Portsmouth in the second tier, he was expected to feature more in the upcoming campaign.
The departure of key man Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham in a £85m deal appeared to pave the way for this.
Potts wore the captain’s armband during West Ham’s pre-season friendly draw with Rangers in July, suggesting he would be among Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting midfielders.
It appears Potts himself even expected this, having recently shared his plans to become an established player at the London Stadium.
In an interview with BBC Radio London, he said: “I want to play as much as I can for West Ham this season.
“I want to show that I’ve got the experience in the Championship from before with previous clubs. I’m excited for the challenge that comes ahead.”
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Potts also spoke of the desire throughout the club to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt following relegation.
He added: “I think it’s going to be a very good season for us.”
“We can see the love for the club from the fans, and we want to replicate that on the pitch.
“We’re very confident going into this season that we can achieve the goal that everyone wants to achieve and no doubt the fans will back us.”
End of the road?
Should he finalise his departure, Potts will leave West Ham having made 32 first-team appearances.
He made his senior debut in a 1–0 loss against Dinamo Zagreb in the Conference League in 2021, with his Premier League bow coming last August, coming on as a half-time susbtitute in a 5-1 loss to Chelsea.
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West Ham will play their first competitive game of the season next week, as they host league rivals Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup first round.
They will then get their league campaign underway a week later with an away trip to fellow relegated side Burnley on August 16.
