After spending eight successful seasons with Liverpool, Joël Matip parted ways with the club when his contract expired at the end of the injury-riddled 2023-24 season. The 33-year-old centre-back, originally from Bochum, is currently without a club.
Despite this, Matip may soon be back in the Premier League. Reports this week indicate that West Ham are exploring the possibility of signing him as a free agent. This interest comes after the Hammers failed to find replacements for Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd, who both departed during the summer transfer window.
Since Matip is unattached, West Ham could sign and register him at any time—a scenario that has been reported by Sky Sports and other sources. The club is also said to be considering John Egan, who played for Sheffield United last season, as an alternative option.
When comparing the two, the decision seems relatively clear. Both Matip and Egan have faced fitness challenges in recent seasons, but Matip logged more than twice as many minutes as Egan last year and has consistently played at a higher level throughout his career.
Regardless of whether Matip ends up joining Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham or another team in England or abroad, there is optimism that he will find a new club and return to training before the September international break ends.
