Joël Piroe has explained why he left Leeds United for West Ham this summer, admitting the opportunity to live in London formed part of the attraction.
The 27-year-old joined West Ham on a season-long loan, with the agreement containing an obligation to make the transfer permanent next summer if certain conditions are met.
After struggling to convince Daniel Farke to give him regular opportunities following Leeds' return to the Premier League, Piroe has dropped back into the Championship in search of consistent football.
Piroe attracted by West Ham and London
Speaking during the De Voetbalkantine Transfer Deadline Show, Piroe made no secret of his enthusiasm for his new surroundings.
“London is obviously a much nicer city than Leeds,” the Dutchman said.
However, the attraction extends beyond location. Piroe believes West Ham possess infrastructure and support that sets them apart from most Championship clubs.
“West Ham has a team worthy of the Premier League,” he added. “Just look at the stadium… Sold out, 60,000 fans – that's not exactly the norm in the Championship.”
West Ham are targeting an immediate return to the Premier League, and Piroe is expected to play a central role in that promotion challenge.
Piroe targets at least 20 goals
The striker has already opened his West Ham account by scoring on his debut and has an established record at Championship level.
Piroe has now registered 74 goals and 18 assists in 182 Championship appearances, numbers that help explain why regular football in the division appealed to him.
“I feel like the Championship gave me the best opportunities to play a lot of matches,” he explained. “When you play a lot, you can showcase your qualities.”
Piroe believes that regular game time will allow him to quickly rediscover his rhythm after finding opportunities harder to come by at Leeds.
He has also established a clear individual benchmark for his first season with West Ham.
“My goal is to score 20 goals.”
With a permanent transfer potentially waiting next summer, reaching that target could go a long way towards helping West Ham secure the promotion they are chasing.
Key Points
- Joël Piroe joined West Ham on loan from Leeds United this summer.
- The agreement includes a conditional obligation to make the transfer permanent.
- Piroe admitted moving to London was part of the attraction.
- He has scored 74 goals in 182 Championship appearances and netted on his West Ham debut.
- The Dutch striker has set himself a target of 20 goals this season.
What’s Next?
Piroe will look to establish himself as West Ham's leading striker as the club pushes for an immediate Premier League return.
Regular starts should provide the 27-year-old with exactly the opportunity he wanted after struggling for minutes at Leeds, while his 20-goal target gives him a clear benchmark for the campaign.
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