Manor Solomon speaks in his first interview on making the decision to join West Ham United, on a three year contract.
It is reported the fee is worth a total of £7m with the Championship title favourites paying an initial £5m plus £2m in add-ons for the 27 year old winger, who was playing for Fiorentina on loan from Tottenham last season.
He spoke of wanting to help get the club back in the Premier League, long term success, his personal motivation and much more.
West Ham United is delighted to announce the signing of Manor Solomon 🤝
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 10, 2026
SOLOMON’S FIRST INTERVIEW:
Interviewer: “Manor Solomon, welcome to West Ham United. How does it feel to be a Hammer?”
Solomon: “Thank you very much. I’m really happy to be here, happy to be a Hammer, and I can’t wait to get started!”
Interviewer: “You’ve signed a three-year contract, so what are your ambitions for your time here in East London?”
Solomon: “So first of all, in the first year, everyone knows what our goal is. The goal is to go up, back to the Premier League, and then in the future, of course, to be competing for Europe in the Premier League. I think West Ham is a massive Club in England, and it deserves to be in the top half of the Premier League.”
Interviewer: “You’ve been a big football fan since you were a small boy. What do you know about West Ham?”
Solomon: “As I said, I know it’s a really big Club in England, and I’ve been in England for four years already, so now I know better that West Ham is a big Club with really top fans, really passionate, really, really strong, so that’s why I wanted to come here.”
Interviewer: “You mentioned getting up and challenging in the Premier League for Europe. There is a big history at this club in Europe, both recently and in the past?”
Solomon: “I know West Ham has a rich history both in the Premier League and in Europe. It’s a Club that won a European trophy just three years ago, and I think this is where the Club should be, and I’m here to help the Club to be where it belongs.”
Interviewer: “A big part of the success have been players who you know well, Yossi Benayoun and Eyal Berkovic?”
Solomon: “Yeah, so I know Yossi really, really well. He’s my friend, as well as Eyal. I know that they were really successful here at West Ham, and they are maybe the best players Israeli football has ever had. So I want to be at least as successful as them or to be also successful here at West Ham.”
Interviewer: “You’re also one of the best players Israel has ever had, and we know that Nuno and Nils Koppen have targeted you as a major player to come to the Club this summer. What can you tell us about your discussions with them?”
Solomon: “I’ve spoken both with the manager and with Nils. They showed me the project, what they want to build there. As I say, of course, our first task is to get promoted, to go back to the Premier League. I really like all the ideas and everything they have presented for me. As I said, I’ll try to give my all in the first season and then in the seasons ahead. I want to be here for a long time and I want to make the fans really happy.
“I had a few options but from the first moment, after the discussions with the gaffer and with Nils, this is the place I want to be at. It’s an ambitious Club, a really big Club with amazing fans, so I wanted to be part of it.”
Interviewer: “You talk about the fans and we’ve got over 50,000 with Season Tickets. You probably saw on Saturday how big the crowd was. You’ve played at big clubs before, and this is a massive Club?”
Solomon: “Yeah, it’s a massive Club. Over 50,000 fans will be here every game. It means a lot. It means the Club is really, really big, really massive. There is a huge fan base and it tells all the story about this beautiful Club.”
Interviewer: “As a player, you’ve had a lot of success. You had success as a young player in Israel, then you went to Shakhtar and won everything and you hardly lost a match. You played in the Premier League, in La Liga and in Serie A, so you’re used to playing under pressure?”
Solomon: “Yeah, I like pressure and I like challenges. I’m just 27, but I feel like I’ve been through a lot. I’ve played in the Premier League, in Spain, in Italy and in the Champions League, so I feel like I’ve got a lot of experience.
“But I feel like I’m just reaching my peak now and I have a lot of good years ahead of me. I want to be a better player. I want to be really consistent. I want to show myself. I’m really happy to be here and hopefully I’ll do it in the West Ham jersey.”
Interviewer: “You were really consistent in the Championship for Leeds, you scored ten goals and assisted 12 and were a star player for them, so you know how to win in this league and win the title?”
Solomon: “Yeah, so I had a really difficult year with Tottenham the year before it. I was really struggling with injury, so that’s why I made the decision to go to Leeds. I really enjoyed every moment in the Championship. In the end, it ended the best way possible and hopefully it will happen the same here at West Ham. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m really looking forward to seeing all the fans.”
Interviewer: “A lot of the West Ham fans will have seen you play on TV in the Champions League and obviously in the Premier League but, in your own words, what can we expect to see from you as a player?”
Solomon: “I’m a winger. I’m trying to be tricky. I’ll try to go on 1v1s and to provide as many goals and assists as possible. Also I will help in the defensive role as we know that nowadays it’s really, really important even for attacking players.
“So, I’ll try to give my all to bring my talent, my qualities and to be a good person off the pitch.”
Interviewer: “You’ve been involved in pre-season already with Tottenham, so you’re fit and ready to play at Burnley on Sunday?”
Solomon: “Yes, I’m really fit. I’m ready to go. I had a really good pre-season with Tottenham. I was involved in all the games, so I’m feeling good and ready to go.”
Interviewer: “Lastly, do you have a message for our supporters?”
Solomon: “My message is that I’m really, really happy to be here. I’m looking forward to seeing them all at the stadium. I’ll try to bring my all and try to make them happy.
“Come on you Irons!”
West Ham Director of Player Recruitment Koppen said: “We are delighted to welcome Manor to West Ham United.
“He is a creative, exciting and versatile attacking player, who likes to score and assist, and works very hard for the team.
“He also has proven quality and recent experience in the EFL Championship, and knows what will be needed for us to be successful in this challenge.
“Manor is hungry and highly motivated to be here, and we look forward to seeing the qualities and attributes he will bring to West Ham United.”
Here’s how social media reacted after Manor Solomon speaks in first interview on making the decision to join West Ham…
@MichaelBridge_: Solomon is a very good signing for West Ham. Should contribute massively in the Championship. Manager staying brings continuity. They wanted big money for Mateus Fernandes & got £85m guaranteed (didn’t see the club announce his departure on X/Twitter). Crysencio Summerville £55m guaranteed and these sales helped secure the future of Jarrod Bowen. Probably a few more incomings, too.
@jack_buchanan_: That’s a spectacular signing for the level, he’ll tear people apart this season.
@Mariamelx58: 🚨 SPURS GIVING AWAY DEPTH ON A DISCOUNT 📉💀 Tottenham letting winger Manor Solomon walk across London to West Ham for a paltry five million quid upfront plus add-ons is laughable business. Handing a direct rival a sneaky talent for bargain bin prices just because Ange Postecoglou couldn’t find a spot for him in the squad makes zero sense
@JessopWHU: Knows the league, good value signing, can’t complain ⚒️
@thfcAlex3: 20+ G/A next season for £5m about to be crazy ngl
@Willwilko82: Exactly what we need, can shoot and has a lovely delivery. Welcome Manor ⚒️
@BetWrightUK: His last season in the Championship was a banging campaign with Leeds 💪 And considering the price, could be a great signing 👀
@jamieparsons76: You like Manor was one of my fav players when he played for my Leeds class act on his day was good at spurs too if you look at his highlights a cheat code for the championship
