West Ham United have confirmed the signing of Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo on a season-long loan.
The deal for the 24-year-old includes a £27m (€32m) option to buy and represents a significant coup for the Irons and their new manager, Julen Lopetegui.
Todibo was heavily linked with Manchester United, but any potential deal was blocked by UEFA due to Nice and United being at least partly owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
Juventus, Chelsea and Tottenham were also rumored to be interested in the twice-capped French international, but it was West Ham who secured his signature.
Todibo leaves Nice after three and a half seasons at the club, having joined on loan from Barcelona in January 2021. He has made 119 appearances for the club, scoring once.
The Frenchman’s move follows West Ham’s signing of fellow Wolves centre-back Max Kilman from Wolves, with the pair likely to form a partnership in the heart of Lopetegui’s defence.