£34m star explains why he rejected West Ham transfer for ‘dream move’

Authors: Dan Owen

Publisher:

GRV Media

Published: 8/14/2025

Language:English

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Tom Banks

Good morning 跑了松鼠好嘛, I'm Tom Banks, and this is Goose Pod for you. Today is Sunday, August 17th.

Mask

And I'm Mask. We're here to discuss the £34m star Ardon Jashari and why he rejected West Ham for what he calls a ‘dream move’.

Tom Banks

Let's get started. So, Ardon Jashari has officially joined AC Milan, calling it a "dream come true" for himself and his family. It's the kind of wholesome story you love to see in sports, a player achieving a childhood ambition. He just felt it was the right place.

Mask

A 'dream' is a nice word for it, but let's call it what it is: calculated ambition. He saw a path at a club with immense history. It reminds me of what Marcus Rashford said about Manchester United's decline, that a lack of identity leaves a club in "no man's land."

Tom Banks

That's a powerful point. And West Ham United were right there, making an eleventh-hour attempt to get him. They're a club on the rise, a Conference League champion, but Jashari’s mind was made up. He had his sights set on Milan from the very first call.

Mask

Exactly. As Rashford said, "Show me a successful team that just adapts." Jashari didn't want to adapt to a project; he wanted to join one with a clear, top-tier identity. West Ham's late bid shows they were reactive, not proactive. Milan sold him a vision.

Tom Banks

To understand that vision, you have to look at the paths of everyone involved. Jashari has had a meteoric rise, starting at Luzern in Switzerland before a record €6 million move to Club Brugge. He absolutely lit it up in Belgium, winning Player of the Year.

Mask

And Club Brugge played it perfectly. They bought low on a high-potential asset and sold high, turning a massive profit. That's just smart business. Now, AC Milan is making a big bet, hoping he's the key to accelerating their return to the top of European football.

Tom Banks

It's a bet on pedigree, both the player's and the club's. Milan are seven-time European champions. Even when they're not at their peak, that history carries enormous weight. It’s a destination. For Jashari, it’s a chance to play alongside legends like Luka Modrić and learn from the best.

Mask

And West Ham has tried to tap into that Milan prestige before, haven't they? They were very interested in defender Fikayo Tomori a few years back but he chose Milan and won a league title. It shows West Ham has the ambition, but they don't yet have that irresistible pull.

Tom Banks

That pull is what this story is all about. It seems that from the moment Jashari's agent told him Milan was a possibility, there was only one outcome. He was on vacation when he spoke to Milan's director, Igli Tare, who laid out the project, and that was that.

Tom Banks

From the player's side, the conflict was purely emotional. He said, "from the first contact with Milan, it was clear that I wanted to come here." He had his heart set. All other clubs, including West Ham, were respectfully just noise he had to tune out.

Mask

But for the clubs, it was all business. Club Brugge knew they had a prized asset. Jashari admitted the negotiations were tough because he was important to them and they "wouldn't let me go easily." They held out for the right price, and they got it. Patience pays.

Tom Banks

This really put West Ham in a tough spot. They came in late with what was likely a very strong offer, only to find the player's mind was already made up. It's a frustrating reality for a club trying to break into that elite circle of destinations for top talent.

Mask

It's a failure of recruitment strategy. You can't win these battles in the eleventh hour. The groundwork has to be laid months, even years, in advance. Milan built a relationship and sold a dream; West Ham showed up with a checkbook. It's rarely that simple.

Tom Banks

The immediate impact for Jashari is immense. He’s now at a club where he feels he belongs, and he’s not shy about the pressure. He said, "Pressure is normal at AC Milan, and it doesn't scare me." He’s ready to work and repay the faith the club has shown in him.

Mask

But let's not ignore the whispers. Some reports are calling this a "$42.5M gamble" and a "divisive" move for Milan. That price tag brings immense expectations. He's not just a new midfielder; he's a statement of intent, and he'll be expected to deliver immediately.

Tom Banks

That's true. And for West Ham, the impact is a pivot. They missed out on their man, so they have to move on. Their attention now turns to Mateus Fernandes from Southampton, a completely different type of player, which shows how they're having to adjust their strategy on the fly.

Tom Banks

Looking ahead, Jashari has set a very clear and noble goal for himself. He stated his primary aim is to "take AC Milan back to the top." He's not just there to play; he's there to build a legacy and restore the club to its former glory. You have to admire that.

Mask

And for West Ham, the future is the next target. The transfer market is relentless. There's no time to dwell on what could have been. They'll pursue Fernandes and if that doesn't work, it'll be someone else. The machine keeps moving. That's the reality of the game.

Tom Banks

That's the end of today's discussion. Thank you for listening to Goose Pod.

Mask

See you tomorrow.

## West Ham United Miss Out on Ardon Jashari as Midfielder Seals "Dream" AC Milan Transfer **News Title:** £34m star explains why he rejected West Ham transfer for ‘dream move’ **Publisher:** GRV Media **Author:** Dan Owen **Published At:** 2025-08-14 18:00:00 This news report details West Ham United's failed attempt to sign midfielder Ardon Jashari, who ultimately completed a transfer to AC Milan, describing it as his "dream move." ### Key Information: * **West Ham's Interest:** West Ham United had expressed significant interest in Ardon Jashari, a rising talent in European football, and held talks with his then-club, Club Brugge, as early as May. * **Jashari's Rejection:** Jashari rebuffed West Ham's advances, making an "eleventh hour attempt" to secure his signature at the end of June. * **Reason for Rejection:** Jashari explicitly stated that he only had eyes for "a top club in one of the major leagues" and that his "will" was to play for AC Milan. He described the move to Milan as a "dream come true." * **AC Milan Transfer:** Jashari has now officially transferred to AC Milan for a reported fee of **£34 million**. He expressed his excitement and gratitude for the welcome he has received at the Italian club. * **Milan's Pedigree:** The report highlights AC Milan's "continental pedigree" as a seven-time European champion and a Scudetto winner as recently as 2022, a level West Ham "simply cannot match." * **Jashari's Perspective:** Jashari emphasized that from the "first contact with Milan," it was clear he wanted to join them. He acknowledged the long negotiation process and the need for patience, as Club Brugge considered him important. * **West Ham's Alternative Target:** With the transfer window nearing its close, Mateus Fernandes is now reportedly at the top of West Ham's midfield wishlist. He was noted for an impressive performance in a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium in April, described as bringing "intensity, desire, and fight to win" along with "talent, guile, and creativity." ### Numerical Data and Context: * **£34 million:** This figure represents the reported transfer fee for Ardon Jashari to AC Milan. It also serves as a benchmark for the player's perceived value. * **2022:** This year marks the most recent time AC Milan won the Scudetto (Italian league title), underscoring their recent success and historical standing. * **Seven-time European champions:** This statistic refers to AC Milan's numerous successes in European club competitions, most notably the UEFA Champions League, highlighting their elite status. * **End of June:** This timeframe indicates when West Ham made their final attempt to sign Jashari. * **May:** This month is when West Ham reportedly initiated talks with Club Brugge regarding Jashari. * **April:** This month is when West Ham scouts observed Mateus Fernandes' performance. The report concludes by noting that West Ham's focus has shifted to Mateus Fernandes as they continue their search for midfield reinforcements.

Read original at GRV Media →

A midfielder seemingly high on West Ham United’s summer wishlist has just secured himself a ‘dream’ transfer. Unfortunately, it was not the London Stadium he was pining for.Long before West Ham held talks with Aston Villa for the now-Newcastle bound Jacob Ramsey, and some six weeks before Southampton rejected that £30 million Mateus Fernandes bid, attempts were made to lure one of the rising talents of European football to the capital.

Though West Ham United’s admiration for Ardon Jashari would not be reciprocated by the then-Club Brugge playmaker.Now, this was to be expected, really.Jashari rebuffed West Ham’s advances after the 2023 Conference League champions made an eleventh hour attempt to turn his head at the end of June, per The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor.

By that point, Milan’s new £34 million man had made his plans clear. Having shown last season that he belongs on the Champions League stage, Jashari only had eyes for ‘a top club in one of the major leagues’.Photo by DIRK WAEM/Belga/AFP via Getty ImagesArdon Jashari explains West Ham snub as he seals AC Milan transferNow, Milan may not be the same formidable force of old.

But, seven-time European champions and Scudetto winners as recently as 2022, even a Rossoneri side at rock bottom possess the kind of continental pedigree West Ham simply cannot match.For the first time since belatedly completing a transfer which was weeks in the making, Jashari spoke to the press and explained exactly why all other approaches were tossed aside.

The confidence of Milan director Igli Tare – he said Ardon Jashari’s ‘will’ was to play at San Siro in that famous red and black shirt – was clearly not misplaced.“My feelings about this club are incredible,” the former FC Luzern captain told Tuttomercatoweb during his official unveiling. “It’s a dream come true, not just for me but also for my family.

I’ve only been here a short time, but I’ve received a great welcome from everyone. “I’m settling in well. It’s an honour to be here.”Jashari ‘only wanted Milan’ when deciding to leave Club BruggeIt was claimed as far back as May, via The West Ham Way, that talks had taken place between the Hammers and Club Brugge.

There was only one club the 23-year-old Switzerland international had in mind, however, when informed of Milan’s interest for the very first time.“Everyone knows it was a long negotiation. But, from the first contact with Milan, it was clear that I wanted to come here,” adds Jashari, who will be hoping to make a bigger impression with the Rossoneri than another Club Brugge export in Charles de Ketelaere, now at Atalanta.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy because I was important to Club Brugge and they wouldn’t let me go easily.“Patience was needed. Tare always told me he’d do everything he could to bring me here. Even though other clubs came, I only wanted Milan. Now we’re all happy.“It was a great season with Club Brugge, and I wanted to finish it on a high note, without worrying about the rumours.

As soon as it finished, my agent told me that AC Milan could be an option. While I was on vacation, he told me about AC Milan’s interest, and then I spoke to Tare about the project. “Now, my dream has come true.”With just over a fortnight left before the window closes, Mateus Fernandes is the new man sitting at the top of the club’s midfield wishlist.

Graham Potter saw the Southampton schemer in action during April’s 1-1 draw at the London Stadium. An impressive, typically all-action performance from a man who, to quote ex-Saints boss Russell Martin, would bring with him ‘intensity, desire, and fight to win’ as well as his ‘talent, guile, and creativity’.