Leicester City's goalkeeper Hermansen joins West Ham United in a transfer deal
West Ham United has strengthened its goalkeeping department with the signing of Danish professional Mads Hermansen from Leicester City. The 25-year-old goalkeeper has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, joining the Hammers for a reported fee of around £20 million.
Hermansen, who has been hailed as one of Europe's most promising young goalkeepers, expressed his excitement about joining West Ham, stating that he has heard good things about the club. He is set to compete with Alphonse Areola for the goalkeeper position at the London Stadium.
During his time at Leicester City, Hermansen made 72 appearances, helping the Foxes win the Championship title in 2024. In the 2023/24 Championship season, he kept 13 clean sheets and conceded 41 goals in 44 appearances. After Leicester’s promotion, he played in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, making over 100 saves and finishing with a positive goals prevented metric of +1.4 despite facing the second-most shots among Premier League starting goalkeepers.
Hermansen's ball distribution is notable, finishing fifth among Premier League goalkeepers in passes per 90 minutes (34.9), and he maintains a strong aerial presence by claiming 6.2% of crosses. His performances have earned him individual recognition, including the Brøndby Player of the Year 2022 and inclusion in the EFL Championship Team of the Year 2023/24.
West Ham coach Graham Potter values Hermansen's composure with the ball, bravery, energy, shot-stopping prowess, and ability to act effectively as a sweeper-keeper. Potter believes that Hermansen's best years are still ahead of him.
Casper Ankergren, who previously worked with Hermansen at Brondby, is West Ham's goalkeeping coach under manager Graham Potter. Ankergren's familiarity with Hermansen's playing style is expected to aid in a smooth transition for the new goalkeeper.
Hermansen is looking forward to playing at the London Stadium, expressing his admiration for the stadium's passionate fans. He considers his transfer to West Ham as a great step in his career and expects to bring good energy to the team to help them achieve success.
West Ham was looking for a new goalkeeper after Lukasz Fabianski left at the end of last season. Hermansen's arrival is set to significantly strengthen the goalkeeping department, providing competition for Alphonse Areola and offering a promising future between the posts for the Hammers.
Hermansen's outstanding performances in the Premier League and European leagues, such as the Championship and EFL, have caught the attention of West Ham United, making him an ideal addition to the club's goalkeeping department. With his strong ball distribution, exceptional shot-stopping skills, and potential to excel as a sweeper-keeper, Hermansen is expected to bring fierce competition to Alphonse Areola, possibly impacting the Premier League's goalkeeping scene in the upcoming seasons.
