August 09, (THEWILL) — West Ham have finalised a £20 million transfer for Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen from Leicester City, addressing manager Graham Potter’s priority to strengthen the goalkeeping department.
The 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the London Stadium after spending two seasons with the Foxes following his move from Danish club Brondby in 2023.
Potter identified goalkeeping reinforcement following Lukasz Fabianski’s departure on a free transfer at the end of last season. With only Alphonse Areola and Wes Foderingham remaining from the previous campaign, West Ham initially pursued Botafogo’s John Victor before switching their attention to Hermansen after talks with the Brazilian goalkeeper stalled earlier this week.
The Denmark international played a crucial role in Leicester’s Championship title triumph during the 2023/2024 campaign but struggled during their return to the English Premier League last season. Hermansen made 27 top-flight appearances but managed just one clean sheet whilst Leicester finished 18th and suffered immediate relegation back to the Championship.
Statistical analysis reveals Hermansen recorded a save percentage of 63.3% during the 2024/2025 EPL season, ranking fourth-worst among goalkeepers who made at least 10 appearances. Only Alex Palmer (58.9%), Jose Sa (59.7%), and Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen (60%) posted lower save percentages, though Leicester’s defensive struggles contributed significantly to these figures.
Hermansen was presented to supporters before Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Lille and could make his competitive debut when West Ham travel to Sunderland for their Championship opener next weekend. The Danish keeper expressed enthusiasm about joining the Hammers, stating his belief that the club represents an ideal fit for his playing style and career ambitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
