West Ham United sign England international Katie Zelem

West Ham United is delighted to announce the permanent signing of Katie Zelem on a three-year contract from London City Lionesses.

The England international spent the second half of this season on loan at the Club and went on to make nine appearances in all competitions, as Rita Guarino’s side secured a tenth-place finish in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

The two-time Barlays WSL champion, with more than 150 top-flight appearances to her name, used her wealth of experience to play a pivotal role for the Hammers and she is looking forward to prolonging her stay in Claret and Blue.

“I’m so excited to be joining West Ham United on a permanent basis,” she said. “From the moment I arrived, I felt so welcome and appreciated - West Ham feels like home. I’ve found a second family here and that made this decision a lot easier.

“I’m really comfortable here and I’m able to be my true authentic self. That allows me to give my best to the team in every game and make the impact that I know that I can.

“Being reunited with Rita has helped me settle into the Club too - it’s been amazing to reconnect. She’s seen me grow from a 21-year-old into a 30-year-old, and we have a great relationship and level of trust both on and off the pitch.

“On reflection, I think we had an exceptional second half of the season. We picked up important points and stayed focused on climbing the table, which shows the character of this group. We showed our potential and I’m looking forward to continuing that journey next season.”

When our No10 made the move to east London in January, it marked a reunion with Guarino, having previously worked together at Juventus where they won the club’s first-ever Serie A title in 2017/18.

That wasn’t the first piece of silverware Zelem had lifted in her career though, having won back-to-back BWSL titles with Liverpool prior to joining Le Bianconere, also winning the Reds’ Young Player of the Year award in her first campaign at the club.

After departing Juventus, the 30-year-old went on to score 32 goals in 161 appearances for Manchester United across a six-year spell at the club, having won promotion to the top flight at the first time of asking in 2018/19, before lifting the Adobe Women’s FA Cup as captain in 2024.

Former Angel City midfielder Zelem also has pedigree on the international stage with 12 senior England caps to her name, which includes games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.

Head Coach Guarino shared her delight to retain someone of Zelem’s experience and leadership in her squad.

"We’re happy that Katie has agreed to extend her stay with us,” she said. "Having worked with Katie in Italy, I knew the quality and leadership that she could bring to this team when she joined us in January - that impact has been clear for everyone to see.

"Her professionalism and willingness to drive standards is a real asset to this group and I look forward to seeing her continue to excel in a West Ham shirt in years to come.”

Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Katie on signing a permanent contract at the Club and wish her every success as she continues her journey in east London.