Lazio forward Castellanos nears €30m West Ham switch

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Sam Wilson | Last updated Jan 2, 2026 4:18 AM ET

Valentín Castellanos is closing in on a move to the Premier League, with West Ham accelerating talks with Lazio as the two clubs work toward a deal worth close to €30 million.

According to reports from TuttoMercatoWeb, further exchanges of documents are expected later today, with the Argentine forward potentially travelling to London between Friday and Saturday to finalise the remaining formalities.

All signs point toward Castellanos’ future lying away from the Italian capital.

ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 22: Maurizio Sarri and Valentin Castellanos of SS Lazio looks on during the SS Lazio Official team photo at Formello sport center on October 22, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

West Ham prepare to strike deal with Lazio over Castellanos

West Ham United made their first formal approach earlier this week, opening direct negotiations with Lazio. The initial proposal was already close to Lazio’s valuation, set at around €30 million, and talks have gathered pace over the last 24 hours.

The deal is now being structured around a fee of approximately £25 million, which converts to just under €29 million, bringing the clubs within touching distance of an agreement. Lazio are understood to be satisfied with the financial framework, while West Ham see Castellanos as a priority addition to bolster their attacking options.

ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 20: Valentin Castellanos of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Federico Baschirotto of US Cremonese during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and US Cremonese at Stadio Olimpico on December 20, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Barring any late complications, the transfer is expected to move quickly toward completion, marking a significant sale for Lazio and a major Premier League step for the 26-year-old forward.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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