West Ham United have significantly strengthened their squad, securing a double signing that sees prolific forward Kelly Gago arrive from Everton and France international defender Estelle Cascarino make her loan move permanent. The announcements, made on July 17, 2026, mark a pivotal moment for the Hammers.
Gago, the 27-year-old striker, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal, concluding a transfer that Everton has described as a club record sale. Having joined Everton from Nantes in 2024, she netted eight Women's Super League goals for the Toffees and boasts three goals for her national side, France. Her departure follows comments from then-manager Brian Sorensen in January, who stated Gago was "free to go" if a release clause was met. While sources indicate her release clause was approximately £500,000, West Ham secured her services for a lower agreed fee, with Everton anticipating the fee to rise further through add-ons and having already made a significant profit on their 2024 investment.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new chapter, Gago stated: "I'm very happy to be joining West Ham United. The family feel of the club really appealed to me and I'm excited to join that family. I'm going to give everything in order to help the team reach our ambitions."
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Estelle Cascarino, also a France international, has committed her future to West Ham on a permanent three-year contract, arriving from Serie A giants Juventus. Cascarino spent the latter half of the previous season on loan with the East London club, where she made 12 appearances across all competitions, firmly establishing herself within the squad.
Reflecting on her decision, Cascarino shared: "I feel really happy to be back at West Ham United. I made the decision quickly that I wanted to be back here permanently. From the beginning, this club has felt like home. I enjoyed every minute of my time here."