West Ham United somewhat surprisingly sold Grady Diangana to West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2020.
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The 24-year-old winger was a real talent and had impressed when playing for the West Ham senior team. He had already bagged two goals and an assist in 21 games for the Hammers (Transfermarkt).
Diangana had looked unbelievably good during the 2020/21 pre-season campaign, and was linking up really well with Sebastien Haller.
So it came as a real shock when he was sold to West Bromwich Albion before the season had even begun.
West Brom paid just £18 million, including add-ons, for Grady Diangana (The Guardian), and that infuriated the West Ham fans even more so.
We have to say though, in hindsight, that sale now looks like one of the best ever transfers the Hammers have conducted…
West Ham selling Grady Diangana now looks likes deal of the century
Despite the criticism that Moyes and the board received for selling Grady two years ago, the majority of Hammers fans will now admit that they got the decision to move him on 100% right.
Diangana has played 103 games for West Brom and has bagged only 12 goals and 11 assists in the process (Transfermarkt).
The winger is 24 now, and should be producing on a consistent basis – certainly at Championship level.
And he quite simply isn’t doing that.
We’re not saying that Diangana is a bad player because he definitely isn’t. In my view though, it’s clear to see that he just wasn’t quite good enough to be playing Premier League football.
Since moving to the Hawthorns, the ex-Hammer simply hasn’t lived up to expectations in a Baggies shirt.
He has been criticised by former West Brom boss Valerien Ismael (Birmingham Mail) and by the club’s fans (Read West Brom).
Had West Ham kept hold of Grady Diangana for another season, there is no way we would have got anywhere near £18 million for him in the summer of 2021.
Sometimes, an offer for a young and unproven player is just too good to turn down.
In my view, the Hammers owners have been totally vindicated in their decision to sell Grady. And the 24-year-old’s form over the past two years is yet another reminder for us that when a young player is allowed to leave the London Stadium, it is more often than not purely because he isn’t good enough to play regular Premier League football.
Selling Diangana for £18 million now looks like one of the best transfers West Ham have ever conducted.
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