West Ham signed Ryan Fredericks on a free transfer in the summer of 2018, after his contract expired with Fulham.
The 26-year-old had to bide his time last season, however.
He only made 18 appearances for the Hammers after sustaining a serious injury in November last year.
Fredericks has hit the ground running this season, however. The former Fulham man has started all of West Ham’s opening seven Premier League games. And he has been in excellent form.
And his capture on a free transfer is now looking like incredibly inspired business from the Hammers.
Fredericks possesses blistering pace, and not only is he a solid defender, but he is also a real threat going forward.
The 26-year-old has been linking up superbly well with Andriy Yarmolenko down the right hand flank. And his well-timed overlapping runs provide West Ham with a threat that they do not necessarily possess when Pablo Zabaleta plays.
The Englishman, who earns £40,000 per week according to Spotrac, brings so much energy to the Hammers’ play, both defensively and in the final third.
It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that he is now worth well in excess of £20 million.
So West Ham picking him up for nothing 15 months ago has to be considered as exceptional business from West Ham.
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