West Ham United are attempting to strike a late deadline-day deal for Bright Arrey-Mbi, with talks ongoing over the SC Braga defender. According to Sky Deutschland journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Hammers have been in contact for several days but it remains unclear whether the deal will be completed before tonight’s deadline.
Arrey-Mbi, 22, only joined Braga from Hannover 96 last summer but impressed in his debut season with 29 appearances. Having already featured five times in the new campaign, he has become a key part of Braga’s defensive unit. West Ham, however, are keen to bring him back to London, where he previously spent five years in Chelsea’s youth system.
West Ham’s Interest Explained
The Hammers are short of defensive options after injuries and suspensions left Graham Potter’ backline exposed in the early weeks of the season. A move for Arrey-Mbi would provide depth and versatility, as he can play both as a central defender and at full-back.
“Talks ongoing for Bright Arrey-Mbi. West Ham have been in contact for days but unclear if the move will go through today.” — Florian Plettenberg, Sky Deutschland
Negotiations are believed to involve both Braga and the player’s representatives, but there is no clarity yet on whether a loan or permanent transfer is being discussed.
Bright Arrey-Mbi — 2024/25 Season at Braga
| Stat (2024/25) | Bright Arrey-Mbi |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 29 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Tackles Won | 36 |
| Interceptions | 28 |
| Clearances | 91 |
| Average Rating | 6.8 |
source: sofascore season data – 2024/25
Arrey-Mbi’s debut season at Braga showed his reliability as a defender, with strong numbers for clearances and interceptions. While not yet a finished product, he has the physical attributes and positional awareness to grow into a Premier League-calibre defender.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William said:
“West Ham’s interest in Arrey-Mbi makes sense — he’s young, mobile, and versatile. With his background at Chelsea and Bayern, he’s well-schooled tactically, even if he’s still raw.”
He added:
“The uncertainty over whether this deal is a loan or permanent suggests the Hammers are being cautious. It’s a sensible late move if they can pull it off, but Braga will not want to lose a player who has just settled in.”
Key Insights
- West Ham in deadline-day talks for Bright Arrey-Mbi from Braga.
- Negotiations ongoing with both club and player camp.
- Unclear whether deal will be loan or permanent.
- Defender made 29 appearances for Braga last season.
- Ex-Chelsea youth and Germany U21 international could return to London.
What’s Next?
With just hours remaining in the window, West Ham must move quickly to finalise terms with Braga. If successful, Arrey-Mbi would become the latest addition to Potter’ squad as the Hammers look to stabilise after a mixed start to the Premier League season.
For the player, the transfer would be a return to familiar territory in England — and potentially the chance to establish himself at Premier League level after spells in Germany and Portugal.
👉 Should West Ham push harder to secure Arrey-Mbi, or wait until January for defensive reinforcements?
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