In early September 2015, West Ham secured the loan signing of Chelsea and Nigeria winger Victor Moses.
The then-24-year-old had seriously struggled to break into The Blues’ team after his debut season. He featured 43 times for the club in the 2012/13 season after signing from Wigan, but had been carted off on loan the following two seasons preceding his move to West Ham.
One loan spell saw him move to Liverpool, where he was a member of Brendan Rodgers’ outfit that came agonisingly close to winning the Premier League. His exploits an Anfield were not enough to earn him recognition at Chelsea, however, as he was loaned to Stoke the following season.
For the third season in a row, Moses left Stamford Bridge in the search for game time, and West Ham fans were ecstatic about the news. They had obviously seen his performances for Stoke and Liverpool over the previous seasons, and were excited to see the Nigeria international link up with fan favourite Dimitri Payet.
This is what the fans had to say:
@whufc_official What a signing!!!
— West Ham COYI (@TheHammers_) September 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/damienlucas/status/638655788383367168
@whufc_official @VictorMoses Fantastic signing that!!! Will link up well with Payet and Sakho… #DeadlineDay
— Majed Al S.S (@sfmegiddo) 1 September 2015
@whufc_official @VictorMoses smashed it! Welcome Victor #Moses #WHUFC
— Direct Hammer (@Direct_Hammer) 1 September 2015
@whufc_official signing of @VictorMoses.. great stuff in store
— Donnay Don Moment (@MomeTheDon) 1 September 2015
@whufc_official @VictorMoses massive signing for the club. Look forward to watching Victor terrorise defences – what a great window! #COYI
— David Skeet (@SkeetsTweets1) 1 September 2015
@whufc_official fabulous to hear this am happy for you my fellow country man at least you would get more playing time, yeah.
— Nnodim Charles (@wischarlie2015) 1 September 2015
@whufc_official @VictorMoses good signing for west ham.
— Dawud Lanre (@dawudlanre) 1 September 2015
@whufc_official we are smashing this transfer window!! Exciting signing in Moses…. Welcome fella
— MrsHammer (@05Jemma) 1 September 2015
@whufc_official @VictorMoses what a signing
— Dane Mansfield (@Danebowers88) 1 September 2015
Moses took to life in east London very well, putting in some fantastic performances for The Hammers during the first half of the season. His year was cut short, however, in December with a hamstring injury. It wouldn’t be until February before he returned again.
Fans will be disappointed that they didn’t get a full season out of the Nigerian, and even more disappointed by the fact that he turned down a chance to secure a permanent move to the club. However, in hindsight, he made a brilliant choice returning to Chelsea, as he fashioned himself into a wing-back, and became a mainstay in Antonio Conte’s Premier League winning side.
West Ham fans may look back at the signing he might have been.
